Kanye West Concerts in Russia Officially Cancelled by Organisers
Two scheduled concerts by American rapper Kanye West, who has legally changed his name to Ye, at the Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg on October 10 and 11 have been officially cancelled, Moscow-based promoter Say Agency confirmed.
Say Agency Confirms St Petersburg Cancellation Following Regional Scrutiny
Moscow-based Say Agency announced via the messaging app Telegram that the St Petersburg dates would not proceed as planned. “Friends, it is with sincere regret that we inform you that the Ye concerts in Saint Petersburg on the scheduled dates will not be able to take place,” the agency stated, adding that an official statement regarding future plans and project status would follow shortly. Ticket refunds for the Gazprom Arena dates are scheduled to begin on Monday, 12 October, with specific rules and conditions to be provided by the promoter.
Outlets including Fontanka and Kommersant reported that the concerts lacked necessary approvals, leading to investigations into the organizers for alleged fraud after tickets went on sale prior to official clearance.
Political Division and International Tour Hurdles Precede Russia Decision
The planned performances drew sharply divided reactions among Russian politicians. Conservative lawmaker Vitaly Milonov released a video statement criticizing the booking and suggesting the artist perform traditional Russian songs instead, while other political figures initially hailed the tour announcement as a pushback against Western pressure.
Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova previously called the scheduled St Petersburg shows unacceptable, pointing to West’s past glorification of Hitler. Similar controversies disrupted the artist’s touring schedule earlier in the year. In April, a planned show in Marseille, France, was postponed, and a UK visa denial forced the cancellation of headline appearances at London’s Wireless Festival following public backlash over antisemitic remarks. In July, a performance at the Pulse of Gaia Festival at the RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia, Italy, was cancelled by local prefect Salvatore Angieri citing public order and safety issues after concerns were raised by the regional Jewish community.
West’s public controversies intensified following social media remarks in 2022 that resulted in him being dropped by talent agencies and brand partners including Adidas and Balenciaga. Subsequent actions included the sale of swastika T-shirts and the release of a song titled “Heil Hitler” in May 2025. In January, West published a full-page apology advertisement in The Wall Street Journal titled “To Those I’ve Hurt,” attributing his behavior to a manic episode of psychotic, paranoid, and impulsive actions linked to bipolar disorder. Despite the apology and a subsequent world tour that included stops in Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands following a Los Angeles performance in April, regulatory and public opposition has continued to impact his live routing.
Organizers stated that further updates regarding refund procedures will be issued on Monday, 12 October.
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