The letter comes after the December 4 vote held by organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), that decided Israel would be allowed to participate in the 2026 contest in Vienna next month. The decision was made despite both Israel’s involvement in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, and controversy over Eurovision 2025’s voting process.

Massive Attack, Brian Eno, IDLES, Primal Scream, Paloma Faith, Kneecap, Paul Weller, Hot Chip, Of Monsters and Men, Sigur Rós, Mogwai, Black Country New Road, Nadine Shah, Nemahsis and several previous Eurovision finalists are among the artists which signed today’s (21 April) open letter. In it, No Music For Genocide calls for the EBU to apply the same exclusions standards to Israel as have applied to Russia since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russia has been banned from Eurovision since 2022.

NMFG’s campaign urges artists to geo-block their music from streaming platforms in Israel. Since September the movement has seen support from Kneecap, Massive Attack, Fontaines D.C., Primal Scream, Hayley Williams, Rina Sawayama and many more artists.

 Today’s open letter also calls on “public broadcasters, performers, screening party organisers, crew, and fans to boycott Eurovision.” Last year’s Eurovision final drew in 166 million viewers worldwide, a staggering figure which rivals both the Super Bowl and the Grammys viewerships. NMFG cited this as a reason for their urgency in calling for the boycott in their Instagram post, found below.

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The EBU said in a statement, “A large majority of Members agreed that there was no need for a further vote on participation and that the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 should proceed as planned, with the additional safeguards in place.” 

Four countries dropped from the 2026 competition as a result of the December 4 vote from the EBU: Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain will not participate. Six days later, on December 10, Iceland withdrew from the contest. On the same day, 11 of Portugal’s 16 entrants said they will decline performing if they win. This threatens Portugal’s ability to participate in Eurovision 2026. 

The open letter commends the aforementioned countries, saying NMFG “applaud[s] the principled withdrawals of the Spanish, Irish, Icelandic, Slovenian, and Dutch broadcasters, and the many national selection finalists committing to refuse to go to Eurovision. Just as artists stood against oppression in South Africa, we stand together now.”

Irish hip-hop trio, Kneecap spoke on the open letter: “We’ve paid a price for speaking out – lost gigs, court cases, visa bans – and we’d do it all again tomorrow. Silence is complicity. We stand with No Music for Genocide and every artist, fan and broadcaster who refuses to let the world’s biggest music event be used to whitewash genocide. No stage for genocide. Free Palestine.”

Fellow signees, Massive Attack, have also previously faced scrutiny for their support of these issues. Robert Del Naja was detained on 11 April at a protest connected to Palestinian Action. Just days later, the group released their first new music since 2020: the single ‘Boots on the Ground’ featuring Tom Waits and rife with political commentary.

The BBC will go on airing Eurovision 2026 from 14 May to 16 May, despite many British artists signing NMFG’s letter. In a statement after the December 4 vote, the BBC said it supports “the collective decision made by members of the EBU. This is about enforcing the rules of the EBU and being inclusive.”

In NFMG’s own statement regarding their open letter, organisers said they “[stand] with and [amplify] the incredible grassroots organising efforts across Europe to boycott Eurovision until Israel is banned. From PACBI to direct actionists, from Film Workers For Palestine in Hollywood to striking dockworkers in Italy and Morocco, people of conscience around the globe are fighting complicity in every industry for a free Palestine and a freer world.”

The entire open letter from No Music for Genocide is available to read here. 

The Belfast rapper, whose real name is Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, has been embroiled in a legal war with the British Government since the incident on the 21st of November 2024. As staunch supporters of Palestine during their conflict with Israel, the band has frequently spoken out against the British Government’s actions or lack thereof, with previous acts of declaring support for Middle-Eastern political groups being recorded. During a Kneecap concert at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town, he was witnessed waving a flag associated with Lebanese Islamist group Hezbollah, which he claims was thrown onto the stage by a crowd member. Endorsement or support of Hezbollah is illegal due to the government proscribing them as a terrorist faction, with the punishment if found guilty carrying six months imprisonment and a fine.

The Metropolitan Police were made aware of a video of the incident in April last year, and Mo Chara was charged under the Terrorism Act 2006 on the 22nd of May 2025. After the first hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court in June, the group’s actions and scheduled performance at the year’s Glastonbury Festival were publicly scrutinised by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, himself a former Director of Public Prosecutions.

Following another hearing in August, the verdict was handed down on the 26th of December, with Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring finding that the charges against Mo Chara were unlawful. Due to internal issues with the CPS’s process, the formal charging on the 22nd of May was one day over the six-month window since the initial perceived crime on the 21st of November 2024. In a social media post, Kneecap’s manager Daniel Lambert said “Liam Óg is a free man. We said we would fight them and win. We did (Twice). Kneecap has NO charges OR convictions in ANY country, EVER.”

In October, the CPS lodged an appeal against the courts, seemingly hell-bent on making an example of the group. Kneecap described this as “political policing”, and noted that the press had been alerted to the news before any of their legal team. This appeal was quashed today by judges at the High Court in London, validating the Chief Magistrate’s assertions on the charges and their timing. In the document published digitally by Lord Justice Edis and Mr Justice Linden, they clarified that the CPS’s claim falling outside the six-month window had nullified the charges.

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Mo Chara and Kneecap have celebrated the news with several social media posts this afternoon, taking aim at the government – both their involvement in Northern Irish affairs and their silence on Palestine. Writing on Instagram, they say “The worlds biggest terrorists are the leaders of the British state. Free Palestine. Free the 6 counties.” The tussle with the British state clearly hasn’t deterred them from political activism. Just this week, the act announced their support of the Nuestra América Convoy, a relief effort to provide supplies to Cuba during their trade embargo at the hands of Donald Trump’s US Government.

2026 will also be a big year for music for Kneecap, with their third album ‘Fenian’ set for release on the 24th of April. So far they have shown furious singles ‘Liars Tale” and ‘Smugglers & Scholars’. In addition to a big headline show at London’s Crystal Palace Park on the 27th of June, they are also embarking on an extensive summer tour of European festivals over 2026. You can catch them at Boomtown as well as Reading and Leeds festivals this August with ticket links on their website.

Perhaps the most controversial and fascinating musical act of the decade, Ireland’s Kneecap have become a political wrecking ball aimed right at the establishment. The British government have tried to charge their members as terrorists for their protests to the war in Gaza, countries including Canada and Hungary have banned them from traveling there, and yet the defiant hip hop trio only come back stronger with new single ‘Liars Tale’ arriving today, and new album ‘FENIAN’ now on the horizon.

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Kneecap were formed in Northern Ireland’s capital Belfast in 2017, with politics and protests the centrepiece of their aggressive hip hop sound. Their past albums are 2018’s ‘3CAG’ and 2024’s ‘Fine Art’, which landed at number 2 on the Irish Albums chart and number one on UK R&B Albums rating. Members Mo Chara, Móglai Bap and DJ Próvai, known for his iconic balaclava, rap about social matters on each riotous song, such as anti-British authority sentiment in the after-effects of The Troubles, issues affecting Irish culture, or preservation of their country’s language and values.

This has drawn the ire of media outlets and politicians since their inception. Their debut single ‘C.E.A.R.T.A’ was banned from Irish radio in 2017, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Member Christopher Stafford condemned their “Brits Out” chants in 2019, and in 2024 they had a run-in with now-Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch. They were awarded a grant of £14,250 by the Music Export Growth Scheme, which Badenoch, who was Business Secretary at the time rejected, claiming the money should not be awarded to “people that oppose the United Kingdom itself.” Following a discrimination case with the British government, they won the trial and donated the grant to two projects supporting both Protestant and Catholic youth in Northern Ireland.

Their notoriety peaked following two incidents where they supported the people of Palestine during the ongoing conflict with Israel. The first of which was a performance in London in November 2023, where the band were on the hook for comments including “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.” and “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”. The second incident, involving Mo Chara waving a Hezbollah flag at a London show in 2024, led to the police charging him under the 2006 Terrorism Act, as supporting either Hamas or Hezbollah is illegal in the UK. The charges, called for by Prime Minister and former head of the Crown Prosecution Services Sir Keir Starmer, were dropped in September last year due to a missed deadline in proceedings.

This persecution has fueled the fire for the new era of Kneecap, with a post today revealing new album ‘FENIAN’ and the inspiration behind it. On the title, they say it is “Inspired by, and proudly named ‘Fenian’, who were warriors in Irish folklore, and later a derogatory term for the Irish”, alluding to its use by the English as a slur for Irish nationalism. In addressing the legal issues, the statement says “We had all the motivation we needed… This isn’t a swift reaction, but a considered response to those that tried to silence us. And failed.”

The music video for ‘Liars Tale’ contains foul language and graphic imagery.

Lead single ‘Liars Tale’ was announced earlier this week, making its debut on BBC Radio One this evening. The track is an incendiary rager, swinging between English and Irish in their signature style to launch a savage attack at British politics past and present. Its X-rated lyrics are packed with expletives and scathing barbs aimed at English states-people, while the accompanying music video revels in metaphors of the band incarcerated behind fences and an Irish warrior screaming battle cries.

The song presumably sets the tone for the album and indeed the future for Kneecap. They will not be stifled or silenced, and as they put it “the Paddies are back” and here to stay. ‘Fenian’ arrives on the 24th of April, released by Heavenly Records. Pre-orders are available in physical and digital formats, as well as pre-saving on streaming apps here.

Chara – real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – will appear for his third court hearing on terror charges, with the previous two attracting hundreds of fans and protesters showing support for the Irish rapper.

The group have called on their fans to show up in London “to support Liam Óg & Kneecap against British State repression”, telling supporters to “Bring your flags, keffiyeh and voices”.

The politically charged rappers have now taken to social media to claim that the police have “just invoked a section 14 for our supporters tomorrow” which means any protesters who appear outside the Westminster Magistrates Court will risk arrest.

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“They previously, and in our view needlessly, did this before the last court date, but this time have removed our supporters from anywhere close to the court entrance. This is petty in the extreme.

“We massively appreciate the support of what we know are the majority of the public, who can see this farce for what it is. It is a distraction from war crimes that the British state still support every single day in Gaza.”

They continued: “In our view this police action is designed to try and portray support for Kneecap as somehow troublesome, and to keep our support far away view when we arrive and depart.”

They then went on to claim that this is a calculated political decision taken the day before Mo Chara’s court appearance, saying: “There is no basis for this, both our last hearings were entirely peaceful and a loving show of solidarity with the most disruptive attendees being the right wing media and the police themselves who arrested a man for holding a sign only to release him later with no charge.

“We know all of our supporters will be, but please go out of your way to be compliant with all instructions issues, irrespective of how pitiful.”

The official Met Police document gives more insight into the details, including a map showing a small shaded area where Kneecap’s supporters “must remain”.

The document reads: “I hereby give a direction imposing the following conditions on the persons organising or taking part in the assembly, which appear to me to be necessary to prevent serious disorder, damage, disruption, impact or intimidation.

“Any person taking part in the Kneecap & The Irish Brigade assembly in support of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh must remain within the shaded area on the attached map.”

The third hearing of the high profile court case will take place tomorrow (Friday September 26) at Westminster Magistrates Court as Mo Chara faces terror charges for allegedly showing support for Hezbollah – a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK – during a live show last year.

Kneecap and Chara have consistently denied supporting either Hamas or Hezbollah, saying they “do not incite or condone violence” and arguing that the legal action is just a “carnival of distraction.”

The group played out their set in full despite pro-Israel, anti Kneecap protests within the crowd. Whistles and flags were amongst the methods used by to shortly disrupt the beginning of the gig. The protesters were identified and removed quickly by security, whilst being serenaded with chants of “free free Palestine” by a crowd largely stood in solidarity with Kneecap’s perspective. 

Moglai Bap, a rapper from the band, took the opportunity to speak at length on the matter. He said “They wanna try and stop us. They don’t want us to play the festival. We’re not going to allow them to get away. We’re not like them. We’re not like Israel. We’re not here to cause fights. We’re here to have a good time. If anyone blows whistles, let security know, we’ll get rid of them. No aggravation. It’s all love, all support for Palestine”

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The festival boasted a mammoth set of headliners with acts like Fontaines DC, Chappell Roan and Queens of the Stone Age drawing people back to the annual festival. However it was the inclusion of Kneecap on the lineup that caused the most conversation.  Rock En Seine stood with the group despite calls for them to do the opposite and in doing so the mayor of Saint-Cloud redacted €40,000 worth of funding for the festival. Mayor Eric Berdoati said in a public statement that this was because the festival was “no longer in line with their objectives.” This comes amidst the ongoing trial of group member Mo Chara who allegedly displayed a Hezbollah flag at a London show last year. Kneecap have constantly defended themselves on social media since the allegations, on one occasion labelling them a “carnival of distraction”

Kneecap will wrap their summer up on August 29, when they support Fontaines DC at a gig in their home city of Belfast.

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Kneecap, known for their political stance and calls for actions, have been making the headlines for all the right political reasons this year. Mo Chara, real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, was released on unconditional bail after his first court appearance and being charged for terrorism after allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag whilst performing in November 2024.

The musicians have been some of the most vocal people and supporters of Palestine in the Israel genocide and sparked many comments after their speech during their Coachella set back in April. Since then and since Mo’s court appearances, many supporters came out both for the Irish band but also to show their support to Palestine which has prompted the Met Police to issue a Public Order Act conditions for today’s court date. Per their statement, those conditions are being put in place to “prevent serious disruption being caused by a protest” outside the court.  

 

 

 

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Fans were heard outside the Magistrates Court singing Irish Folk songs whilst holding signs that read “Free Palestine”, “Free Mo Chara” as well as “Defend Kneecap: Drop The Charges”. Palestinian flags were waved as cars on the main road actively beeped in support. Famous Paul Weller, Jam’s frontman was spotted amongst the supporters.

Kneecap have consistently denied supporting either Hezbollah or Hamas as they say they do not condone nor incite any violence, arguing that the footage from their November gig was taken out of context to distract people from the real problem at hand.

The band was also put under investigation after making remarks about members of parliament during their performances. When asked if he regretted said comments, Chara said: “Why should I regret it? It was a joke – we’re playing characters, it’s satirical, it’s a fucking joke. And that’s not the point. The point is, that wasn’t an issue until we said ‘Free Palestine’ at Coachella. That stuff happened 18 months ago, and nobody batted an eyelid.”

Today’s court proceedings will see the likes of Gurriers, Nadine Shah and Maverick Sabre to get up and speak in favour and support of Kneecap and Mo Chara.

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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.

Massive Attack told The Guardian that the new initiative was sparked by the increasing fear artists are facing when expressing pro-Palestine views. “This is about solidarity with artists being crushed under legal threats—while witnessing genocide unfold in real-time on their screens,” the band said.

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As the global music scene continues to wrestle with how and when to speak on political issues, Massive Attack and their allies have made their position loud and clear: art is not apolitical, and silence is not an option. The group called out organisations such as the UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) for their “aggressive campaigns”. The UKLFI are the group who were responsible for reporting punk duo, Bob Vylan, to the police after their Glastonbury performance this year. Massive Attack have already received massive support on their recent Instagram post:

 

 

 

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Massive Attack and the other artists involved have demanded a permanent ceasefire, unrestricted access for aid organisations and for all UK arms licences with Israel to be cancelled.

This alliance marks a significant moment in the music industry—publicly uniting prominent and emerging artists to challenge legal and institutional attempts to silence political expression, specifically around Gaza.

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In a joint statement posted across social media, the artists say they’ve “watched in horror” as Gaza has become “a slaughterhouse”—and they’re done staying silent. What’s more, they’re calling out what they describe as a rising wave of intimidation within the music industry.

“We write as artists who’ve been threatened into silence or career cancellation,” the statement reads. “We won’t stand by as voices are silenced under the weight of legal threats, cancelled bookings, or police investigations.”

Massive Attack are one of many artists who are speaking out against atrocities in Gaza, risking career opportunities, read more about those speaking out, here.

Tickets to future Massive Attack shows are available for purchase here.

Both artists performed on Saturday afternoon (June 28), playing back-to-back sets on the West Holts stage.

Bob Vylan came on first, with a set that saw frontman Bobby Vylan speak out in solidarity with bands that “use their platform to speak up for the Palestinian people”, mentioning Kneecap, Amyl & The Sniffers and The Murder Capital.

@gbnews Punk band Bob Vylan have sparked uproar after they used their Glastonbury set to leads chants of “Death to the IDF” and “Free, Free Palestine”. The group also expressed solidarity with Irish rap trio Kneecap, who were scheduled to perform 30 minutes after them on the West Holts stage, after it was confirmed the BBC would not be broadcasting their set live. #Glastonbury #BobVylan #Israel #Gaza #BBC #GBNews ♬ original sound – GB News

During their set, the crowd started a chant of “free, free Palestine”. In response, Bobby asked, “Have you heard this one?”, before leading a new chant saying “death, death to the IDF”, in reference to the Israeli Defense Forces, the armed forces of Israel who are currently part of the war in Gaza.

Kneecap’s set saw them take aim at their critics and opposition, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Sharon Osbourne. While onstage, they thanked Glastonbury for keeping them on the bill and told the crowd that the “prime minister of your country, not mine, said he didn’t want us to play”, referring to Starmer.

They also touched on the ongoing war in Gaza, with Mo Chara saying “We understand colonialism and we understand how important it is to support each other internationally.” He then led the crowd into another chant of “free, free Palestine” after accusing Israel of genocide.

@.thebasementpeople Roll on Finsbury Park #fyp #glastonbury #glasto2025 #kneecap ♬ original sound – The Basement People

Since both politically charged performances, Avon and Somerset Police have said they will be investigating both sets from Bob Vylan and Kneecap. On social media, they posted: “We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon.

“Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.”

We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon.

Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation. pic.twitter.com/w2RQ4LdQf3

— Avon and Somerset Police (@ASPolice) June 28, 2025

Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, has ordered Tim Davie, the BBC’s director-general, to explain why the performance by Bob Vylan was streamed on iPlayer. Prior to Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury, she voiced her opposition to their inclusion on the bill during an episode of Politics Live, saying “This is a band that has thrived on the oxygen of publicity”.

In response to the controversy around Bob Vylan’s onstage comments, a BBC spokesperson has said that their set, which was livestreamed on iPlayer, won’t be available on demand: “Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan’s set were deeply offensive,” they told the Independent.

A government spokesperson has also provided a statement against Vylan’s controversial crowd chant: “We strongly condemn the threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury.

“The Culture Secretary has spoken to the BBC Director General to seek an urgent explanation about what due diligence it carried out ahead of the Bob Vylan performance, and welcomes the decision not to re-broadcast it on BBC iPlayer.”

It’s been an exciting weekend of music at Glastonbury 2025. As well as standout sets from headliners like Olivia Rodrigo and The 1975, there were a number of secret sets that took place. Click to read our coverage on sets from Skepta, Lorde and Lewis Capaldi.