Kneecap have responded after the Hungarian government banned the group from entering the country for three years ahead of their planned appearance at Sziget Festival.
The news was broken by Secretary of State Zoltan Kovacs as he took to Twitter/X to announce that Kneecap “are officially banned from entering Hungary – for anti-semitism and glorifying terror. When hate ignores the mail, we put it on the wall.”
Kovacs added that the Irish trio’s performance at Sziget “posed a national security threat” and “for this reason, the group has been formally banned from Hungary for three years. If they enter, expulsion will follow under international norms.”
@KneecapCEOL are officially banned from entering Hungary—for antisemitism and glorifying terror. When hate ignores the mail, we put it on a wall.
This is what we call “service by public notice.” In plain English: if you won’t read the letter, you’ll see it on the poster. pic.twitter.com/K2lJ0L2mi1
— Zoltan Kovacs (@zoltanspox) July 24, 2025
Sziget organisers were the first to respond to the news, calling it “an unprecedented move which we believe is both unnecessary and regrettable.”
In a statement, Sziget said: “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. Over the past 30 years, Sziget has served as a free and safe place for different cultures, hosting artists and visitors from around the world, earning significant recognition in the international community and enhancing Hungary’s reputation.”
They finished the statement by saying: “We fear the government’s decision announced today to ban Kneecap may not only damage the reputation of Sziget, but also negatively affect Hungary’s standing worldwide. Sziget Festival will continue to do everything in its power to remain, in every sense, The Island of Freedom.”
Kneecap themselves have now come out and released a statement in response, describing the decision as “fucking outrageous”.
A message for all who’d hoped to see us on stage at Sziget in 2 weeks pic.twitter.com/JKFuKIkAf4
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) July 24, 2025
Posting on X/Twitter, the rap trio said: “To the tens of thousands of fans who we were buzzing to see in person at Sziget, we’re sorry we won’t be with you. The authoritarian government of Viktor Orban say we ‘pose a national security threat’. Which is fucking outrageous coming from a man who welcomed Netanyahu, a wanted war criminal, like a hero just a few weeks ago.
“It’s clear this is political distraction and a further attempt to silence those who call out genocide against the Palestinian people. Much like the good people of Budapest, who defied their own President’s ban on their ‘Pride Parade’ in June, we will fight on for what is right.”
They finished the message by signing off with: “Free Palestine, Tiocfaidh ár lá [Our day will come], Fuck Viktor Orban.”
This is just the latest controversy surrounding Kneecap, starting off with their Coachella performance earlier this year which led to criminal investigations and terror charges. Despite all of this, the Irish trio are gearing up for their biggest English show to date at the OVO Wembley Arena on September 18. Get tickets here.
