Police deny cancelling Samini’s London Boat Concert

Reggae-dancehall musician, Samini's planned performance at a boat party in London has been cancelled after the vessel reportedly became overcrowded.

The event, dubbed, 'White Night on the Thames' Summer Boat Party, was scheduled for Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Blackfriars Pier, with Samini billed as the special guest.

The evening cruise was expected to run from 5pm to 11pm and feature Afrobeats, Amapiano, and Afroswing.

However, according to a police officer who spoke at the scene, the cancellation was made by the event organisers rather than the police.

The officer explained that the boat had reached its permitted capacity after some people allegedly entered without tickets, making it unsafe to carry additional passengers.

“We didn't cancel the show, the organisers cancelled it,” the officer said, adding that the boat had become overweight and could not accommodate more people.

The situation reportedly frustrated several patrons who had waited for hours at the pier.

One attendee said they arrived at about 3:30pm and were repeatedly given later boarding times before eventually being allowed onto the boat around 8pm, only to be asked to disembark.

Some patrons expressed anger over the organisation of the event and called for refunds.

The cancellation comes shortly after the disruption of another Ghanaian entertainment event in the UK, Shatta Wale's ShattaFestUK, which was reportedly called off following a stampede linked to crowd-control problems at the entrance.