Maple News reports that American country music star Charley Crockett canceled the Canadian leg of his tour after being denied entry to Canada at Kelowna on February 22, 2026, with officials citing a finding of serious criminality.
Crockett posted on Instagram on February 23 that he had sought entry at Kelowna on February 22 but was told he was inadmissible on grounds of serious criminality.
Canada’s border rules restrict entry to non-citizens who are deemed admissible. Only Canadian citizens have an automatic right to enter the country; non-citizens—including permanent residents—must meet admissibility standards, which center on whether the individual may pose a danger to Canadian society.
Under Canadian immigration regulations, the assessment of potential danger largely depends on the seriousness of each offense, as it was committed under the laws in effect at the time. Offenses outside Canada can be classified as “serious criminality” if they would be punishable by 10 or more years of imprisonment under Canadian law, a threshold used to determine admissibility.
Maple News cannot comment on the specifics of Crockett’s case, but the incident highlights how a prior criminal record can affect international travel for performers and, in this instance, disrupted a scheduled tour.