Ye’s two planned stadium concerts in St. Petersburg, Russia, have been officially canceled after weeks of uncertainty surrounding the events. The rapper, formerly known as Kanye West, had been scheduled to perform at Gazprom Arena on Oct. 10 and 11, 2026. Moscow-based promoter Say Agency confirmed the cancellation in a statement posted on Telegram, expressing “sincere regret” that the concerts could not proceed as planned.
In its statement, Say Agency thanked fans who had supported the project and waited for confirmation about the performances. The promoter said it would release a further announcement concerning the status of the project and its future plans. The company also confirmed that ticket holders would be able to request refunds beginning Oct. 12, with additional information about the refund process to follow.
The cancellation follows a dispute over whether the concerts had been formally secured at Gazprom Arena. The shows were announced in August, but the stadium subsequently stated that it had not signed a rental agreement with Say Agency and therefore could not host the performances. The promoter maintained that preparations were continuing while efforts were made to resolve the issue, leaving fans uncertain about whether the concerts would take place.
The proposed performances had reportedly sold out before the cancellation was confirmed. The concerts would have been among the largest appearances by a major Western music artist in Russia since the country launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The cancellation brings the St. Petersburg dates to an end after weeks of conflicting announcements from the promoter and venue.
The concerts also faced criticism over Ye’s history of antisemitic statements and use of Nazi imagery. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova publicly criticized the planned performances, citing what she described as Ye’s glorification of Adolf Hitler. Some Russian commentators also questioned the appropriateness of hosting an American performer while the United States continues to support Ukraine.
Ye issued a public apology for his past conduct in a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal in January 2026. He expressed regret over his antisemitic remarks and the use of swastika imagery, while saying that his past behavior did not excuse the harm caused. The rapper has not publicly commented on the cancellation of the Russian concerts.
The St. Petersburg cancellations follow other disruptions to Ye’s planned international appearances. His scheduled performances in the United Kingdom, Poland, Italy and France have also been canceled or blocked amid controversy surrounding his past statements and actions. Despite those setbacks, Ye has continued performing in other countries and has upcoming concert dates outside Russia.
