Kanye West's Russia concerts axed after authorities pull plug over 'Hitler glorification' concerns

From the Newshound archive · first published 1 October 2026 · last updated 2 October 2026.

Kanye West's two St Petersburg concerts, scheduled for 10 and 11 October, have been scrapped following intervention by Russian authorities. Organisers confirmed that ticket-holders will receive refunds. The Moscow-based Say Agency announced the cancellation, which reportedly came after "a call from Moscow" when ticket sales had begun without all required approvals in place. Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova had already declared the planned concerts unacceptable, and Russian media attributed the decision to official concerns about West's glorification of Hitler.

An investigation into the Moscow-based organisers for alleged fraud is reportedly under way by Russian authorities, according to anonymous sources cited in the Kommersant newspaper.

West would have been the biggest western act to perform in Russia since 2022, with most artists having avoided the country since the invasion of Ukraine.

Conservative Russian lawmaker Vitaly Milonov demanded West perform traditional Russian songs instead, saying he should 'stop his disgusting antics and become a normal person.'