Kanye West expected to perform in Russia in October
After a series of concert cancellations in Europe and contacts with Israel, Kanye West is expected to arrive for two shows in St. Petersburg, Russia. He will be the first major Western artist to perform in the country since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Following a series of scheduled and cancelled events, Kanye West is expected to perform two stadium shows in St. Petersburg, Russia, on October 10 and 11. If the concerts proceed, they will mark the first performances by a Western artist of such magnitude in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago. Both concerts are set to take place at the Gazprom Arena, the largest stadium in St. Petersburg.
The announcement follows a long string of West's concerts that were scheduled and subsequently cancelled in France, Italy, Switzerland, the UK, Poland, and elsewhere. These cancellations were largely driven by West's antisemitic remarks in recent years, for which he has since apologized. As a reminder, we previously revealed on mako that there have also been contacts regarding a potential concert by West in Israel.
Even within Russia, about two months before his arrival, the rapper's shows are already sparking criticism. Vitaly Milonov, a conservative Russian lawmaker, suggested in a published video that West should sing traditional Russian songs to fit in:
"Maybe after that he will stop his disgusting behavior and become a normal person."
Among fans, however, the criticism has not hindered ticket sales. Almost all of the most expensive tickets, priced at over $1,850, were sold within hours of the announcement. By evening, the cheapest tickets, priced at approximately $105, were also sold out. Younis Teymurkhanly, owner of the Helvetia Hotel in St. Petersburg, reported an explosion of bookings, calls, and messages immediately following the announcement, noting that "my entire address book came to life at once."
American rap stars have performed in Russia for years, but most Western artist appearances ceased following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Despite Western sanctions, some artists have returned to perform there recently, including DaBaby and Tyga, who performed in Moscow last year, and Jason Derulo, who performed in the city this summer.
In April, the UK government blocked West from entering the country for a performance at a major festival in London, claiming his presence would not be for the public good. Subsequently, his concerts in France, Italy, and Poland were cancelled amid criticism surrounding his rhetoric. At the same time, the controversial rapper has managed to hold large-scale concerts in the Netherlands, Turkey, and Albania. Later this month, he is expected to return to the USA for three concerts in Chicago and New Orleans.
