Kanye West is reportedly in talks to make a major return to the UK festival circuit as a headliner for this year’s Wireless Festival.
An insider has claimed discussions between the 48-year-old rapper – who legally changed his name to Ye – and festival organisers have reached an advanced stage.
The source told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column: “It’s been an incredibly turbulent few years for Ye, but he wants to get back on stage and prove he’s a serious musician. Wireless is a massive festival and for him to return and headline would be huge.”
Kanye is hoping the performance will help rebuild his UK fanbase after losing support over his political views and public controversies.
The insider said: “He has apologised profusely for his behaviour over the last few years and he wants a fresh start.”
Negotiations are ongoing, with Wireless reportedly keen for him to commit to multiple nights like Drake did last summer.
They went on: “Ye and his team have been locked in final negotiations about headlining Wireless. The number of nights he’ll be performing is still being ironed out. Drake did three last year and Wireless are hoping Ye will commit to the same.”
If confirmed, the booking would mark Kanye’s first appearance at Wireless in more than a decade. He previously headlined the festival in 2014, delivering two sets — one in London’s Finsbury Park and another in Birmingham’s Perry Park — after stepping in to replace Drake, who pulled out due to illness. His London performance made headlines for a lengthy mid-set rant, while his Birmingham show drew a huge crowd and was praised for its energy and production.
The festival has hosted major names including Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Travis Scott, Cardi B, and Kendrick Lamar.
Kanye has kept a relatively low profile on the live-performance front in recent years, focusing instead on music releases and sporadic public appearances.
