Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker banned from visiting UK for SXSW hours before festival kick-off

Two prominent political commentators have been banned from entering the UK.

Left-wing broadcasters Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker both went online to say they had been barred from visiting London for the SXSW festival this week.

The decision to ban the pair came hours before the festival’s kickoff this morning in Shoreditch.

Uygur wrote on X: ‘I’ve been banned from the UK. I tried to get on a flight to London to attend SXSW London and give a speech at Oxford.

‘I’ve been banned for criticising Israel. Are we free anymore? This is oppression of Western citizens by our own governments on behalf of a different country!’

Meanwhile Piker in a response claimed: ‘The UK has revoked my visa as well. All at the behest of Israel. The West is betraying “liberal values” for a genocidal fascist foreign government. Soon we will all become Israel.’

the uk has revoked my visa as well. all at the behest of israel. the west is betraying “liberal values” for a genocidal fascist foreign government. soon we will all become israel. https://t.co/UqQG1dogOI

— hasanabi (@hasanthehun) May 31, 2026

A Home Office spokesperson told Metro that the pair’s Electronic Travel Authorisations had been cancelled because their ‘presence in the UK may not be conducive to the public good.’

The Home Office added: ‘Decisions to refuse or cancel an ETA on these grounds are based solely on an assessment of the potential risk an individual may pose to UK society.

‘Where applications require further consideration, individuals may choose to apply for a visa if they still wish to travel to the UK.’

Piker had previously faced backlash over reportedly saying in a 2019 livestream that ‘America deserved 9/11’. He later apologised and said it was inappropriate.

The streamer, who has millions of subscribers, also said he would ‘would vote for Hamas over Israel every single time’. He later clarified that he is not antisemitic, but ‘anti-Israel’.

Uygur, on the other hand, is a well-known political commentator who has appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored a number of times.

He was accused of claiming that Israel controls America by financial means, and concerns about his dismissal of evidence related to grooming gangs were also raised as a concern before his visa was banned, The Times found.

SXSW said its event brings together a ‘wide range of speakers with different associations, affiliations and perspectives’.

They clarified that SXSW does not endorse organisations that speakers are affiliated with or support.

A spokesperson said: ‘We are aware that Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker are unable to travel to the UK following a decision by the Home Office.

‘Decisions on entry to the UK are a matter for the Home Office and the individuals concerned.

‘SXSW London’s role is to convene a broad range of diverse voices and perspectives.

‘We remain focused on delivering a programme this week fostering open dialogue and exchange of ideas and featuring more than 800 speakers, artists and screenings.’

The UK previously banned a ‘dangerous’ influencer from entering the UK to speak at Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom rally.

Valentina Gomez, who gained notoriety through stunts including burning a copy of the Quran, was banned ahead of the central London march after massive backlash.

The Home Secretary – who has the power to cancel a person’s permission to enter or stay in the UK – intervened because her presence would not be conducive to the public good, it is understood.

The same justification was used for blocking rapper Kanye West from entering earlier this month.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: SXSW London 2026 kicks off today – and it’s not just another tech conference

MORE: London Tube strikes – full list of affected lines and exact time they will start

MORE: London’s ‘most luxurious’ secret garden is reopening — with strict rule for visitors