Kanye West to perform in Russia in 2026, becoming highest-profile Western artist since Ukraine war

Controversial U.S. rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, will perform two concerts in St. Petersburg, Russia, on October 10 and 11, 2026, his producer Joseph Karre and local organizer SAY Agency confirmed on Monday. The shows at Gazprom Arena, which has a capacity of up to 80,000, are part of the Ye Live Concert Tour 2026 supporting his 12th album, *Bully* .

Tickets ranging from 9,000 to 160,000 Russian rubles (approximately $91 to $1,625) went on sale Monday, with the cheapest options selling out within hours, according to Russian media reports . The venue, named after the state-owned energy giant Gazprom, has faced Western sanctions over its role in financing Russia’s war in Ukraine .

Ye’s appearances mark him as one of the few high-profile Western artists to perform in Russia since February 2022, when many countries severed cultural ties with Moscow over the Ukraine conflict. Ukrainian officials and activists have campaigned to discourage foreign artists from performing in Russia, while Moscow has dismissed such efforts as attempts to “cancel Russian culture” .

The rapper has faced widespread backlash and entry bans in multiple countries over his controversial remarks, including anti-Semitic statements and praise for Adolf Hitler. In 2022, he told Infowars, “I see good things about Hitler” and “I love Jewish people, but I also love Nazis.” He later released a song titled *Heil Hitler* featuring a 1936 Hitler speech excerpt and sold merchandise with swastikas . In January 2025, Ye apologized in a full-page *Wall Street Journal* ad, attributing his behavior to bipolar disorder and “poor judgment” .

His European tour this year saw cancellations in France, Italy, Poland, and the U.K., where Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized organizers for booking Ye “despite his previous anti-Semitic remarks and celebration of Nazism.” Australia also barred him over the *Heil Hitler* song . However, he performed in the Netherlands in June despite protests from politicians and Jewish organizations .

Russian lawmaker Svetlana Shurova said a meeting between Ye and President Vladimir Putin could occur if it fits Putin’s schedule, noting organizers claimed Ye “dreams” of such a meeting . Other Russian officials have demanded Ye publicly support Moscow’s war in Ukraine or face cancellation, while ultranationalist group Sorok Sorokov vowed to scrutinize his lyrics for banned content, such as drug glorification . Ye visited Moscow in June 2024 for fashion designer Gosha Rubchinsky’s birthday party, though Rubchinsky later severed ties with him .