Wireless Festival Loses More Sponsors as Diageo and Rockstar Energy Exit Over Kanye West Booking

London's Wireless Festival 2026 continues to face sponsor departures following the controversial announcement of Kanye West as a headliner. Diageo and Rockstar Energy have become the latest companies to withdraw their support, joining Pepsi in distancing themselves from the event.

Diageo, the multinational beverage company behind brands including Guinness, Crown Royal, Smirnoff, and Ketel One, confirmed its withdrawal in a statement to The Independent. "We have informed the organisers of our concerns and as it stands, Diageo will not sponsor the 2026 Wireless festival," the company stated. Diageo has not responded to Rolling Stone's request for comment.

The festival's official website reflects the ongoing sponsor exodus. While the event continues to be listed as "Pepsi MAX Presents Wireless," all previously featured sponsors and partners have been removed from the site. The original list included PayPal, Beatbox, and Budweiser, among others. According to ITV reports, PayPal has also confirmed it will no longer partner with the festival. These companies have not yet responded to Rolling Stone's requests for comment.

Although sponsors have not explicitly cited West in their withdrawal statements, the timing coincides with strong criticism from British political leaders. Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a direct statement addressing the booking: "It is deeply concerning that Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism."

Starmer emphasized the broader implications of the decision, stating, "Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted clearly and firmly wherever it appears. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe and secure."

London Mayor Sadiq Khan also weighed in on the controversy, telling Rolling Stone, "We are clear that the past comments and actions of this artist are offensive and wrong, and are simply not reflective of London's values. This was a decision taken by the festival organizers and not one that City Hall is involved in."

The sponsor departures come as West attempts to rebuild his mainstream presence following years of controversial statements. The artist recently released his album Bully and has embarked on a comeback tour featuring collaborations with notable artists including Lauryn Hill, North West, CeeLo Green, André Troutman, Zion Marley, and YG Marley. This represents his most significant mainstream effort since publishing an apology in The Wall Street Journal for his antisemitic remarks and past controversial statements.

The developing situation highlights the ongoing tension between artistic freedom and corporate responsibility in the entertainment industry, as major brands reassess their associations with controversial figures.