In brief
Ye’s planned double‑night performance at Russia’s Gazprom Arena was formally cancelled, ending the biggest Western headline act scheduled since the country entered conflict in 2022. The venue announced it had not signed a rental agreement and warned of legal and public backlash, citing complaints about West’s controversial statements about Nazism and antisemitism. The decision came after Sofie Agency’s Telegram post confirmed the shows were no longer viable, while the artist has yet to comment on the fallout. The cancellation reflects a broader pattern of concert shutdowns for West, following protests in Poland, Italy and France and his recent UK ban.
The highly anticipated Ye concerts – slated for St. Petersburg’s Gazprom Arena on 10 and 11 October – have been officially cancelled after venues, promoters and local authorities raised concerns over contractual, safety and political issues.
The venue released a statement in August saying it had not signed a rental agreement with the concert promoters, and the Moscow‑based Say Agency confirmed the shows would not take place due to the unresolved contract.
West’s cancellation comes on the back of a series of controversies, including antisemitic and pro‑Nazis remarks that prompted protests across Russia and other European nations. The country's foreign ministry spokesman publicly denounced the planned shows, warning that the artist’s “glorification” of Hitler was unacceptable.
In 2025 West returned to touring in the US, but his agenda has been marred by repeated cancellations, most notably a London Wireless Festival headline in which he was barred from entering the UK and the staging of concerts in Poland, Italy and France.
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