Kanye West announces tour dates in Russia
Rapper Ye, formerly Kanye West, has announced two concert dates in St Petersburg, Russia, following a series of cancellations across Europe due to his past antisemitic remarks. The shows are notable as he becomes the first major Western artist to perform in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine.
Why it matters
The tour highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding the artist's public image and the geopolitical implications of Western cultural figures performing in Russia during the ongoing conflict.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, West's 2026 tour has been hit by cancellations amid uproar over his antisemitic comments
Music correspondent Published 49 minutes ago Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, is to play two shows in St Petersburg, Russia, this October - becoming the biggest Western star to play in the country since its invasion of Ukraine four years ago.
Tickets for the shows at the 70,000-capacity Gazprom Arena sold out within hours of the announcement on Monday. Prices ranged from 9,000 roubles (£78) to 160,000 roubles (£1,394).
The concerts come as West tries to rehabilitate his image after years of antisemitic and pro-Nazi remarks. He apologised in January, blaming his statements on a brain injury and bipolar disorder.
But a major European tour this summer faltered, with several concerts scrapped amid uproar over the star's views.
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