June 28, 2025: Mo Chara, DJ Provaí, and Móglaí Bap of Kneecap during day four of Glastonbury festival 2025 at Worthy Farm, Pilton in Glastonbury, England. Getty Images

Kneecap, the Belfast-based Irish language hip-hop trio, has been banned from entering Hungary, less than three weeks before they were due to perform at the Sziget festival in Budapest.

Zoltan Kovacs, Hungary's Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Relations of Hungary, took to X on Thursday, July 24, to announce that Kneecap has been "officially banned from entering Hungary" for three years.

Kovacs accused the trio of "antisemitism and glorifying terror."

In a subsequent post on X, Kovacs claimed that Kneecap's members "repeatedly engage in antisemitic hate speech supporting terrorism and terrorist groups."

"No legal basis"

A few hours later, Kneecap issued a statement on social media slamming their ban as "a political distraction."

The group 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 f--king outrageous coming from a man who welcomed Netanyahu, a wanted war criminal, like a hero just a few weeks ago.

"There is no legal basis for his actions, no member of Kneecap has ever been convicted of any crime in any country.

"We stand against all hate crimes and Kneecap champions love and solidarity as well as calling out injustices where we see it.

"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 concluded their statement: "Free Palestine. Tiocfaidh ár lá. F--k Viktor Orban."

Read more

"Artistic freedom of expression"

Organizers of the Sziget music festival said the ban on Kneecap entering the country is "unprecedented" as well as "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."

Organizers added that they fear the ban on Kneecap "may not only damage the reputation of Sziget, but also negatively affect Hungary's standing worldwide."

Read more

The ban was announced the week after UK police announced that there would be "no further action" in their criminal investigation into Kneecap's performance at the Glastonbury music festival.

However, Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh - who goes by the stage name Mo Chara - is still facing a terrorism charge in the UK. He is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hizballah, a proscribed organisation.

He was released on unconditional bail following a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on June 18. A further hearing is set for August 20.

Kneecap slammed the terrorism charge as "political policing" and "a carnival of distraction."

Earlier this year, Kneecap made headlines for their performances at the US music festival Coachella, where they displayed messaging on stage that read: "Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people.

"It is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes.

"F--k Israel. Free Palestine."