Kneecap banned from entering Hungary ahead of Sziget festival appearance
A government spokesperson claims their forthcoming appearance “posed a national security threat”, saying they’ve been banned from the country for three years
Kneecap have been banned from performing in Hungary ahead of their forthcoming appearance at Sziget, the country’s largest music festival.
A government spokesperson shared the news earlier today (July 24), announcing that the Irish rap trio will no longer be able to enter the country to fulfil their scheduled performance.
"Hungary's government has moved to ban Kneecap from entering the country and performing at Sziget,” said Hungary’s Secretary of State, Zoltan Kovacs, on Twitter.
According to Kovacs, the government cited “antisemitic hate speech and open praise for Hamas and Hezbollah as justification” for the ban. Kneecap were due to perform at the festival on Monday, August 11.
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He later shared information “straight from the Government Information Center”, which alleges: “Kneecap’s members repeatedly engage in antisemitic hate speech supporting terrorism and terrorist groups. Hungary has zero tolerance for antisemitism in any form.”
“Their planned performance posed a national security threat, and for this reason, the group has been formally banned from Hungary for three years,” Kovacs claimed. “If they enter, deportation will follow under international norms.”
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It continued: "Sziget Festival’s values mean we condemn hate speech, while guaranteeing the fundamental right to artistic freedom of expression for every performer. Cancel culture and cultural boycotts are not the solution."
Kneecap have been at the centre of a political storm after two clips of them performing recently resurfaced online, with one allegedly showing member Mo Chara flying a Hezbollah flag during a gig in London in 2024. Hezbollah is a banned organisation in the UK under the 2000 Terror Act.
Chara, real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, was charged with a terror offence by the Metropolitan Police in May and was later released on bail during a hearing at Westminster Magistrates court last month. The next hearing is set for August.
The second video, from a gig in 2023, allegedly showed Ó hAnnaidh shouting: “Kill your local MP” earlier this month. It was announced that Kneecap would not face any charges over the video.
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According to Reuters, over 150 Hungarian artists signed an open letter protesting Kneecap’s appearance at Sziget ahead of the scheduled event.
Last week, Avon & Somerset Police confirmed that a criminal investigation into Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury Festival had been dismissed. It followed reported complaints of the group’s performance.
Following the case dismissal, Kneecap said in a statement: “One element of the political policing intimidation attempt is over. We played a historic set at Glastonbury. Whole area closed an hour before due to crowds. A celebration of love and solidarity. A sea of good people at the world's most famous festival.”
Read Sziget's full statement below.
Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter
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