‘Unprecedented, Unnecessary, Regrettable’: Sziget On Hungary’s Kneecap Ban

As Pollstar reported last week, Irish hip-hop group Kneecap has been banned from entering Hungary, which affects the band’s scheduled performance at the country’s biggest festival – and one of Europe’s main events – Sziget.

The festival has always distinguished itself by its commitment to artistic expression and freedom – it takes place on Óbuda Island, generally referred to as the Island of Freedom – a term coined by Sziget over its long history (the festival turned 30 in 2023).

With the exception of clearly hateful speech, its organizers want to provide a safe space for any artistic expression, even if politically charged.

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The festival team has released the following statement on the matter:

“At 11:00 a.m. today [Thursday, July 24], we received official notice that the Hungarian Government will deny entry to the band Kneecap into Hungarian territory in order to prevent them performing at Sziget on August 11. This is an unprecedented move which we believe is both unnecessary and regrettable.

“Following concerns raised by Government and pressure groups across Hungary over the past weeks at the prospect of Kneecap performing, we have liaised closely with the band and they reassured us that their performance would not contravene either Sziget’s values or Hungarian law.

“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.

“We fear that [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.”

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