SXSW London Panelists Blocked from Entering UK, Blame Israel Stance

SXSW London opened yesterday for its second edition with a conference program featuring more than 300 sessions and 800 speakers. Among those taking the stage are former First Lady Michelle Obama, broadcaster Piers Morgan, actress Claire Foy, and Oracle Red Bull Racing CEO & Team Principal Laurent Mekies.

But two key speakers are no longer set to take part as once again the event's speaker lineup has become a political story.

U.S. citizens Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker were denied boarding to the UK. Both claimed they were barred because of their pro-Palestinian stance and comments against Israel.

Uygur posted 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 criticizing Israel. Are we free any more? This is oppression of Western citizens by our own governments on behalf of a different country!”

Piker characterized the decision starkly, writing on X: "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 Home Office confirmed to Variety that their electronic travel authorization (ETA) was cancelled because their presence in the UK “may not be conducive to the public good.” It added that the decision is based “solely on an assessment of the potential risk an individual may pose to UK society.” The Home Office did not comment on the speakers’ views on Israel.

On May 29, Novara Media reported that David Taylor, a Member of Parliament (MP) UK Labour Party, had called for the Home Office to ban Piker from the UK. At the time, SXSW stated the festival brings together “a wide range of speakers with different associations, affiliations, and perspectives.”

After Piker's barring, Taylor thanked the UK Home Secretary for its actions on X, adding, "There's no reason to open our doors to those who seek to spread hate and division, especially to those who've supported a proscribed terror group. SXSW London must review its vetting policies so it doesn't happen again."

Political Background

Uygur and Piker were key speakers in SXSW London 2026, both with millions of online followers. Uygur is a Turkish-American left-wing political activist and co-founder, CEO, and co-host of The Young Turks (TYT), a political news stream with nearly 7 million YouTube subscribers. Piker is a left-wing political commentator and Twitch streamer with 3.1 million followers. Piker, Uygur’s nephew, previously worked at TYT with him.

Uygur was scheduled to be on stage on June 3 with Greece’s former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis in a session titled “Techno-Feudalism is Here. Who Are the Lords?” Piker was meant to join communications strategist Zara Rahim on June 4 for a session titled “How the American Left Learned to Speak the Internet.” The profiles of Uygur and Piker, along with Varoufakis and Rahim, have been deleted. The sessions remain on the agenda, and it’s unclear if they will go ahead.

SXSW organizers have distanced themselves from the UK government’s decision to bar the speakers, saying: “Decisions on entry to the U.K. 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.”

Journalist Ash Sarkar, who was set to moderate the session featuring Piker, announced she was canceling her participation, and shared a thread on X with her reasoning. She took part in last year’s event, as a panelist at a session about the manosphere.

Beyond SXSW London

Uygur and Piker were also scheduled to speak on June 6 at the Oxford Union, a renowned debating society with a strong free speech stance that operates independently of the University of Oxford. In May 2025, Piker spoke at the society, addressing antisemitism, Israel's actions, and America's support of Israel.

Oxford Union shared a statement on social media criticizing the UK denying the speakers entry. “This eleventh-hour call signals much more than democratic decline — it is a direct threat to free expression.” The organizers plan to host the session virtually. “This event will not be cancelled. The Union will ensure this discussion takes place. Free speech does not require a visa.”

Zarah Sultana, an MP for the new “Your Party” led by Jeremy Corbyn, shared her letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood asking her to reverse the Uygur and Piker ban and clarify the reasons behind it.

The Labour Muslim Network called the decision alarming and demanded a clear explanation. In a post on X, Green Party leader Zack Polanski called it a “very grim decision” and warned of a “dangerous road” under a Reform government. He also shared a video of Piker’s 2025 Oxford Union address.

The UK’s ETA and the Precedents

Conference organizers may want to think twice before bringing controversial figures to UK stages. Since the UK’s ETA became mandatory for citizens of the U.S., Canada, EU countries, and Australia in February, it has already been used to bar various individuals from entering the UK.

In March, the UK banned 11 far-right influencers from entering the country for a rally organized by anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson. Among them was Colombian-American anti-Islam influencer Valentina Gomez.

In April, Kanye West, now legally known as Ye, was denied entry into the UK, resulting in the cancellation of London’s Wireless Festival, which he was meant to headline.

The tension of diverging viewpoints on stage is key to SXSW’s conference agenda. The event website’s What’s New section states: “You loved the bold discourse and provocative discussions. In 2026 we are expanding that experience with extended panel formats and built-in Q&A sessions, designed to foster deeper insights, active audience participation and transformative dialogue.”

Several conference sessions feature controversial topics and speakers. For example, Monday’s session “The Authoritarian Creep: How Far Right Rhetoric Impacts Culture” focused on fascism with commentary on U.S. President Donald Trump, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the rising far right. Broadcaster Piers Morgan will speak on Wednesday in “Headlines & Harmonies,” described as an unfiltered conversation on fame, media, culture, public opinion, and life in the spotlight.

The UK isn’t alone in challenging free speech at events. Allegedly, the last-minute cancellation of RightsCon 2026 stemmed from Chinese pressure on the Zambian government to bar a Taiwanese delegation.

In the U.S., divisive politics are negatively impacting the events business. A growing number of international associations are steering their meetings away from the country.

Despite challenges to free speech, there are also examples of events promoting dialogue across political divides. The human resources association SHRM promoted a politically charged debate between anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck and political commentator Van Jones. Following controversy and members calling for the association to drop the session, it was successfully held without incidents and received praise for countering political polarization.

SXSW’s Controversies

SXSW London is the second geocloning of the Austin-based SXSW, a music and film festival that started in 1987 and evolved to feature extensive programming including a trade show, conferences, and brand showcases.

At the first edition of SXSW London in 2025, multiple artists pulled out after former British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and David Cameron made unannounced appearances as guest speakers.

SXSW in Austin has also recently suffered from politics-driven boycotts. Several artists pulled out in 2024 due to the U.S. Army’s role as a super sponsor.

In December 2025, the Palestinian BDS Movement, a website promoting boycotts, divestment, and sanctions against Israel, called for SXSW to implement an ethical policy on programming and partnerships.

Penske Media Corporation acquired 50% of SXSW in 2021 and became majority shareholder in 2023. It restructured the leadership team in 2025, including laying off long-time programming leader Hugh Forrest.

In January, the company announced that the third edition of its first geocloned event, SXSW Sydney, would be its last after the New South Wales government withdrew key funding.

SXSW in Austin ran in March in a condensed 7-day format, spread across the city to mitigate the loss of the Convention Center that is being rebuilt. Plans are in place for the festival to be the first to return to the venue when it reopens in 2029.