Karol G Made Us Proud. But Other Foreign Acts Are Giving Up

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What’s the issue? Foreign artists fear touring the U.S. due to ICE raids, visa denials, high costs, and political speech crackdowns.
Who’s speaking out? Karol G told her Coachella crowd: “Don’t feel fear — feel pride!” She’d previously criticized ICE in a Playboy interview.
What’s the impact? Pollstar reports U.S. concerts are down 17% in Q1 2026 compared to last year.
Who’s been affected? Tinariwen canceled tours. Cat Stevens faced visa problems. Mexican stars like Julión Álvarez had visas revoked. European bands lost tens of thousands of dollars.
What’s the future? Tours are booked a year in advance, so full effects may hit in 2027. Midterm elections could change perceptions.

Karol G made history at Coachella, but her success masks a growing crisis. On the first Sunday night of the festival, the Colombian superstar told her American fans to keep fighting. “This is for my Latinos that have been struggling in this country lately,” she said. “Don’t feel fear — feel pride!”

Yet behind her triumphant headline slot, a chilling reality is setting in. Many foreign acts now fear — or at least warily eye — booking substantial tours in the United States. Brutal ICE raids, tensions at border crossings, policed political speech, and sky-high visa costs are pushing international artists away.

Karol G A Chilling Effect on Touring

Empty indoor arena with stage and large screen showing event cancelled message — An empty indoor arena displays a large screen announcing the cancellation of an event.

“The fears that ICE would raid shows didn’t really materialize, but there is a chilling effect,” said Andy Gensler, editor of Pollstar, the touring industry trade bible. “Trump’s only been back in office a year, so we haven’t fully seen the effects, but it does send a message that if you’re a political artist, you won’t get a visa.”

Pollstar estimates that total U.S. concerts tracked for Q1 2026 are down about 17% from last year. Slower international touring is likely contributing.

Karol G Visa Denials and Financial Ruin

A performance visa routinely costs $6,000 with expedited processing. One European band (who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals) told The Times they lost tens of thousands of dollars after their visas were denied days before a major U.S. tour. “We had to put on fundraising shows to get to zero, then reapply, and paid four grand extra to expedite them, took out a loan. We felt relentlessly fleeced.”

The band added, “A lot of bands are giving up on the U.S., for sure. It’s a different feeling now where the U.S. government can do anything to us, and we just have to take it. It’s scary.”

Karol G Latin Acts Hit Hardest

Mexican superstar Julión Álvarez canceled a planned concert for 50,000 fans in Arlington, Texas, after his touring visa was revoked. Grupo Firme faced a similar fate at the La Onda festival. Los Alegres del Barranco saw their visas canceled after projecting an image of a drug kingpin during a concert.

“That was a moment where people realize how serious or scary it can get for promoters with this administration,” said Oscar Aréliz, a Latin music expert at Pollstar.

Bad Bunny demurred on touring the continental U.S. for fear of ICE raids at his shows, opting for a lengthy residence in Puerto Rico instead.

‘We Are Not Breaking Up with You, But We Are Seeing Other People’

Angela Dorgan, director of Music From Ireland, summed up the sentiment perfectly. “Certainly over the last number of years in the U.S., we have been thinking of where we could find these new audiences for Irish music. The unofficial theme of our showcase was, ‘America. We are not breaking up with you, but we are seeing other people.'”

Tours typically book a year in advance, so the full effects may not be felt until later in 2026 or 2027. The results of the midterm elections could change global perception. But for now, the world’s music community looks at the U.S. like an old friend going through a rough patch: They’ll be happy to see us once we pull it together.

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Los Angeles Times: Karol G at Coachella was a global hit. Yet other foreign acts fear touring the U.S.

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