Kanye West's Russian concerts have been cancelled, organisers say

Kanye West's highly anticipated concerts in Russia have been officially cancelled, marking a significant blow to the controversial American rapper's attempts to perform in the country since the start of the war in Ukraine. Initially scheduled to take place at St Petersburg's Gazprom Arena on October 10 and 11, the rapper's two dates have been scrapped, according to the Moscow-based organizer Say Agency.

Refunds for purchased tickets will be made available to affected ticket holders, though the agency has not provided further details on the cancellation's reasons. According to Russian media, the decision was made by authorities in Moscow, following a call from the capital.

Some Russian politicians, including conservative lawmaker Vitaly Milonov, had previously opposed West's booking, urging him to perform traditional Russian songs instead. Meanwhile, others hailed the cancellation as a victory against "anti-Russian hysteria," despite the rapper's history of antisemitic remarks and glorifying Nazi Germany.

West's antisemitic comments resurfaced in 2022, leading to his removal from social media platforms X and Instagram, as well as distancing from his talent agency and fashion brands like Adidas and Balenciaga. In February 2025, West even started selling swastika t-shirts, and later released a song titled 'Heil Hitler', which drew immediate backlash and led to the revocation of his visa to enter Australia and potential arrest in Brazil.

West has since apologized for his actions, attributing his behavior to a four-month-long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid, and impulsive conduct. However, many have questioned the timing of his apology, considering it coincided with the launch of his new album 'Bully' and the start of his world tour.