Hungarian authorities prohibit the use of the Kneecap group, promising to highlight instances of genocide and war crimes through their platform.
In the world of music, Irish rap trio Kneecap's tour is making headlines for reasons beyond their catchy beats and energetic performances. Despite facing bans from several festivals and cancellations due to safety concerns and accusations of anti-Semitism, Kneecap's tour is ongoing, with more than forty concerts remaining on their calendar for this year.
The group's international tour includes dates in Sweden, Norway, Finland, France, Belgium, and a US leg which kicks off in October. Notable performances include a mostly sold-out 21-date US tour starting October 1, 2025, and shows in Amsterdam on November 12 and Liverpool on November 15, 2025.
However, Kneecap's performances have not been without controversy. At the Øyafestivalen in Oslo, Norway, the group accused the Norwegian government of "enabling" the "genocide" in Gaza through the country's oil pension fund. This criticism stemmed from the fund's investments in Bet Shemesh Engines Ltd., a jet engines parts manufacturer supplying the Israeli military.
The controversy has not been limited to Norway. Kneecap was banned from performing at Sziget festival in Hungary this year, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán labeling the group as "anti-Semitic" and stating that their statements cannot be protected by artistic freedom or freedom of expression. Festival director Tamás Kádár called the ban an "unprecedented, unnecessary, and regrettable move" that will damage Sziget and Hungary's international image.
Sziget festival tried to defend Kneecap's performance, condemning hate speech but guaranteeing all performers the right to artistic expression. Kádár believes the issue goes far beyond Kneecap, stating it's about the world's attitude to culture in general or politics' attitude to culture.
Kneecap has vocally rebuked Israel's claims of self-defence and used their platform at various music festivals to speak out against Israel's war in Gaza. However, Israel has rejected the genocide accusations and maintains that its operations are lawful acts of self-defence.
UN human rights experts have stated that Israel's military actions in Gaza amount to genocide since Hamas' attack on Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023. This has added fuel to the fire of Kneecap's controversial performances.
Despite these challenges and some festival bans, Kneecap continues to actively perform and tour internationally. Many other festivals are sticking with Kneecap, including the upcoming Green Man Festival in Wales. However, the upcoming gig in Vienna on 1 September for Kneecap has been cancelled due to acute safety concerns following political pressure from Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ).
It's clear that Kneecap's music and performances are not just about entertainment. They are a platform for political statements and a catalyst for debate and controversy. Whether you agree or disagree with their views, it's undeniable that Kneecap's tour is a testament to the power of music as a tool for expression and change.
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