European tour faltered after UK barred Ye’s entry on public-good grounds
Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, will play two concerts at St Petersburg’s 70,000-capacity Gazprom Arena this October, becoming the biggest Western star to perform in Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. Tickets for the shows, announced Monday, sold out within hours, with prices ranging from 9,000 roubles (£78) to 160,000 roubles (£1,394).
The Russia dates come as Ye attempts to rehabilitate his image after years of antisemitic and pro-Nazi remarks. In January, he apologised in a full-page Wall Street Journal advertisement, writing “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite.” He attributed his earlier statements to a brain injury and bipolar disorder, describing a “four-month-long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour” and saying he was “deeply mortified” by his actions.
The European leg of Ye’s 2026 tour faltered over the summer. The UK Home Office barred him from entering the country on the grounds that his presence would not be “conducive to the public good,” leading to the cancellation of the Wireless Festival, where Ye had been due to headline all three nights. Concerts in France, Poland, Italy and the Czech Republic were also scrapped.
Shows did proceed in Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Turkey and Albania. At Ye’s Madrid concert earlier this month, up to 60 percent of the audience were foreigners who had been unable to see him in their home countries, according to Spain’s national broadcaster RTVE. RTVE reviewer Javier Villuendas praised the show’s “spectacular” stage design — a giant illuminated dome — and called the setlist, “to put it simply, a fire emoji.” “We didn’t see any Nazis in the audience, by the way,” Villuendas added. Mondo Sonoro reviewer Daniel Caballero said the audience was left “practically speechless” by the “electrifying” show and described Ye as appearing “determined to regain his sanity and his passion.”
Western acts were a regular presence in Russia before the invasion of Ukraine, with artists including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lana Del Rey, Muse and System of a Down having performed there. Many record labels suspended activities in Russia after the war began, and only a handful of artists have ventured to the country since — mostly B-list acts such as Tyga, DaBaby, Akon and the pro-Trump rapper Lil Pump. Jason Derulo performed in St Petersburg and Moscow last year and told fans he would return on his 2026 world tour.
Ye has reportedly been planning a Russian concert for some time. He visited Russia in 2024 to celebrate the birthday of fashion designer Gosha Rubchinskiy, with whom he has collaborated.
However, his concert plans have not been met with universal acclaim. Vitaly Milonov, a notorious conservative lawmaker, suggested Ye should perform traditional Russian songs rather than his planned setlist. “Maybe after this he’ll stop his disgusting antics and become a normal person,” Milonov said in a video statement.
Ye began making antisemitic remarks in 2022, when a series of offensive social media posts led to suspensions of his accounts. Fashion brands Adidas and Balenciaga cut ties with him. He went on to declare himself “a Nazi,” released a song titled “Heil Hitler” and sold T-shirts featuring the swastika. Some observers have questioned the timing of his January apology, noting that it coincided with the release of his new album, Bully, and the start of his world tour.