Barclays suspends sponsorship of UK festivals after musicians decry bank’s Israel links

Barclays says it has suspended its sponsorship of several leading UK music festivals, after an artists-led backlash at the bank’s provision of financial services to defense companies supplying Israel.

The British bank reveals it was asked by US entertainment giant Live Nation to “suspend participation” in its remaining 2024 festivals, which include this weekend’s Download event in central England.

Other high-profile festivals impacted include the Isle of Wight Festival later this month — set to be headlined by Green Day, The Pet Shop Boys and The Prodigy — and July’s Latitude Festival.

Barclaycard’s branding had reportedly disappeared Friday from the events’ websites. This comes after protests and boycott threats from bands and fans over Barclay’s links to defense firms which supply Israel, leading to accusations the bank was “complicit in the genocide in Gaza.”

Several bands, including crossover thrash metal outfit Pest Control, had already announced they were pulling out of Download and staging a benefit concert for Palestinians instead.

Live Nation stated that “Following discussion with artists, we have agreed with Barclays that they will step back from sponsorship of our festivals.”

A Barclays spokesperson confirms the move, saying the bank “was asked and has agreed to suspend participation in the remaining Live Nation festivals in 2024.”

“The protestors’ agenda is to have Barclays debank defense companies which is a sector we remain committed to as an essential part of keeping this country and our allies safe,” its statement adds.

It notes that Barclays bank branches have been repeatedly vandalized and staff intimidated, in incidents which pro-Palestinian activists have claimed responsibility for.

“The only thing that this small group of activists will achieve is to weaken essential support for cultural events enjoyed by millions,” the Barclays spokesperson adds.

“It is time that leaders across politics, business, academia and the arts stand united against this.”

Bands Boycott Barclays, a collective of musicians and industry professionals which has spearheaded the backlash, hails the suspension, calling the move “a historic victory for the Palestinian-led global BDS movement.”