Ye to Stage First Major Western Concerts in Russia Since 2022

The rapper formerly known as Kanye West, now performing under the name Ye, will hold two stadium shows in St. Petersburg, Russia, in early October at Gazprom Arena, the city’s largest venue. Organizers said the concerts are the first by a major Western act since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Almost all premium tickets—priced above $1,850—sold out within hours, and the lowest-priced seats, around $105, were gone by the evening of the announcement.

New York Times

Western performers largely withdrew from Russia after the 2022 invasion and ensuing sanctions. A handful of artists, including DaBaby, Tyga and Jason Derulo, have appeared in Moscow or other Russian cities since then, but large-scale tours have been rare. Ye’s recent career has been dominated by controversy over antisemitic and pro-Nazi remarks, prompting cancellations of his European dates and a ban from a major London festival. Despite these setbacks, Ye completed a comeback show in Los Angeles in April and has upcoming U.S. dates in Chicago and New Orleans later this month.

New York Times

• Ye – American rapper and producer, whose recent statements have sparked global criticism.

New York Times

• Vitaly Milonov – Conservative Russian lawmaker who suggested Ye should perform traditional Russian songs to “stop his disgusting antics.”

New York Times

• Yunis Teimurkhanly – Owner of the Helvetsia hotel in St. Petersburg, reporting a surge in bookings after the concert announcement.

New York Times

Russian authorities have not issued a formal comment, but Milonov’s video statement urged Ye to adapt his performance to Russian culture. The British government publicly barred Ye from a London festival, citing public-interest concerns. Several European festivals in France, Italy and Poland have canceled his appearances, while venues in the Netherlands, Turkey and Albania have proceeded with scheduled shows, highlighting divergent approaches to freedom of expression across the continent.

New York Times

• “Maybe after this he’ll stop his disgusting antics and become a normal person,” — Vitaly Milonov

New York Times