{"id":2099892,"date":"2026-08-18T14:52:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T11:52:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2099892"},"modified":"2026-08-18T14:52:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T11:52:12","slug":"kanye-west-to-perform-in-russia-despite-cultural-boycott-of-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2099892","title":{"rendered":"Kanye West to perform in Russia despite cultural boycott of country"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/kanye-west@2000&#215;1270.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><i class=\"tdb-bread-sep td-icon-right\"><\/i><span>Music News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Kanye West to perform in Russia despite cultural boycott of country<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Tickets sold out within hours, and a Russian lawmaker has suggested that the rapper should perform traditional Russian songs at the event<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Liberty Dunworth<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-08-18T15:52:12+01:00\">18th August 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .\/block --><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure>\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/kanye-west@2000x1270-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"Kanye West performs live\" title=\"kanye-west@2000x1270\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">Kanye West performs live. CREDIT: Luo Yunfei\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Kanye West is set to perform in Russia, despite the widespread cultural boycott of the country over its invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: <b>Donda 2: Kanye West\u2019s ego is scuppering these half-baked, dashed-off sounding songs<\/b><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Since Russian forces invaded Ukraine in 2022, there has been a widespread refusal amongst artists to perform in the country. Now, however, Kanye West has announced plans to play two shows in St Petersburg later this year.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Announced yesterday (Monday August 17), West is set to head to Russia for shows at the Gazprom Arena on October 10 and 11. Already, tickets have sold out, just hours after going on sale. According to <em>BBC News<\/em>, tickets for the 70,000 capacity gig ranged from 9,000 roubles (\u00a378) to 160,000 roubles (\u00a31,394).<\/p>\n<p>In response to the two new tour dates, Russian lawmaker Vitaly Milonov suggests that the rapper should perform traditional Russian songs at the event, instead of his usual setlist. \u201cMaybe after this he\u2019ll stop his disgusting antics and become a normal person,\u201d he added in a video statement (as per <em>The New York Times<\/em>).<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Kanye West Will Perform In Russia, Venue Sayshttps:\/\/t.co\/29fdVbzjab pic.twitter.com\/vKvfGWMwa8<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Forbes (@Forbes) August 17, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The tour will come as part of his ongoing, controversial comeback tour, which kicked off at SoFi Stadium in California back in April, and has since seen him play in the Netherlands and Turkey. For the latter, Ye claimed that he drew 118,000 people to his Instanbul show and break the record for the largest stadium performance.<\/p>\n<p>While shows in Albania, Spain, Portugal and Chicago are still set to go ahead as planned, many of the dates have been cancelled due to the rapper\u2019s history of anti-Semitic comments and use of Nazi imagery.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In April, Wireless Festival cancelled its 2026 event after the UK government blocked Ye from entering the country. He had been booked to headline all three nights of the London festival.<\/p>\n<p>Ye\u2019s planned shows in Poland and Switzerland were also cancelled amid backlash, while a French date was postponed and an Italian show was pulled over safety concerns.<\/p>\n<p>Also this summer, Florida Senator Rick Scott unsuccessfully urged the Tampa Sports Authority to cancel Ye\u2019s two June shows, and the mayor of San Antonio also failed to get his show at the city\u2019s Alamodome on July 4 scrapped.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">JUST IN: Kanye West is set to perform in Russia for the first time, with two concerts scheduled for October 10 and 11 at St. Petersburg\u2019s Gazprom Arena, according to organizer Say Agency. pic.twitter.com\/HXKrSuIiob<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Brian McDonald (@BrianMcDonaldIE) August 17, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-2\" class=\"lazy-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>West\u2019s history of making anti-Semitic remarks dates back to 2022, when he made a series of offensive comments on social media. Those comments saw his accounts on both Instagram and Twitter suspended, and the musician was dropped by his lawyer, talent agency and record label, along with fashion brands such as Balenciaga and Adidas.<\/p>\n<p>At first, West gave several interviews in which he refused to apologise for making the comments, while suggesting that Jewish people should \u201cforgive Hitler\u201d. However, in 2023, West delivered an apology to the Jewish community, and then blamed alcohol for his behaviour the following year.<\/p>\n<p>In the wake of that initial apology, numerous lawsuits were filed against the rapper with claims of extensive anti-Semitic behaviour. One former employee alleged that the rapper said Jewish people were \u201cworking together to hold him back\u201d. Another former employee claimed he used anti-Semitic language in the workplace and praised Hitler \u2013 something for which he allegedly paid a settlement for.<\/p>\n<p>In 2024, a separate ex-employee accused him of being openly anti-Semitic in front of his staff.<\/p>\n<p>West also shared a number of highly controversial posts in early 2025, revoking an apology he previously made to the Jewish community and then declaring himself \u201ca Nazi\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The rapper then claimed on X\/Twitter that, \u201cafter further reflection\u201d, he\u2019d \u201ccome to the realisation that I\u2019m not a Nazi\u201d, however, this was followed only a few days later by yet more swastika apparel appearing on his X page.<\/p>\n<p>In January,\u00a0Ye published a full-page advertisement in the\u00a0<i>Wall Street Journal\u00a0<\/i>apologising for anti-Semitic and other offensive comments. In the letter, he linked his\u00a0behaviour\u00a0to mental health struggles and said he was committed to accountability,\u00a0treatment\u00a0and change.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\" data-io-article-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/san-antonio-mayor-calls-for-kanye-wests-july-4th-alamodome-concert-to-be-cancelled-3952257\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Ye released his latest album \u2018Bully\u2019 in March, after debuting it via a YouTube livestream.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Kanye West<\/li>\n<li>Rap<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html 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class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Festivals Blog<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Twenty One Pilots and Ashnikko conjured their own worlds on day two at Sziget Festival 2026<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>                    <span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span>                <\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Kanye West is set to perform in Russia, despite the widespread cultural boycott of the country over its invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: <b>Donda 2: Kanye West\u2019s ego is scuppering these half-baked, dashed-off sounding songs<\/b><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Since Russian forces invaded Ukraine in 2022, there has been a widespread refusal amongst artists to perform in the country. Now, however, Kanye West has announced plans to play two shows in St Petersburg later this year.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Announced yesterday (Monday August 17), West is set to head to Russia for shows at the Gazprom Arena on October 10 and 11. Already, tickets have sold out, just hours after going on sale. According to <em>BBC News<\/em>, tickets for the 70,000 capacity gig ranged from 9,000 roubles (\u00a378) to 160,000 roubles (\u00a31,394).<\/p>\n<p>In response to the two new tour dates, Russian lawmaker Vitaly Milonov suggests that the rapper should perform traditional Russian songs at the event, instead of his usual setlist. \u201cMaybe after this he\u2019ll stop his disgusting antics and become a normal person,\u201d he added in a video statement (as per <em>The New York Times<\/em>).<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Kanye West Will Perform In Russia, Venue Sayshttps:\/\/t.co\/29fdVbzjab pic.twitter.com\/vKvfGWMwa8<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Forbes (@Forbes) August 17, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The tour will come as part of his ongoing, controversial comeback tour, which kicked off at SoFi Stadium in California back in April, and has since seen him play in the Netherlands and Turkey. For the latter, Ye claimed that he drew 118,000 people to his Instanbul show and break the record for the largest stadium performance.<\/p>\n<p>While shows in Albania, Spain, Portugal and Chicago are still set to go ahead as planned, many of the dates have been cancelled due to the rapper\u2019s history of anti-Semitic comments and use of Nazi imagery.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In April, Wireless Festival cancelled its 2026 event after the UK government blocked Ye from entering the country. He had been booked to headline all three nights of the London festival.<\/p>\n<p>Ye\u2019s planned shows in Poland and Switzerland were also cancelled amid backlash, while a French date was postponed and an Italian show was pulled over safety concerns.<\/p>\n<p>Also this summer, Florida Senator Rick Scott unsuccessfully urged the Tampa Sports Authority to cancel Ye\u2019s two June shows, and the mayor of San Antonio also failed to get his show at the city\u2019s Alamodome on July 4 scrapped.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">JUST IN: Kanye West is set to perform in Russia for the first time, with two concerts scheduled for October 10 and 11 at St. Petersburg\u2019s Gazprom Arena, according to organizer Say Agency. pic.twitter.com\/HXKrSuIiob<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Brian McDonald (@BrianMcDonaldIE) August 17, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-2\" class=\"lazy-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>West\u2019s history of making anti-Semitic remarks dates back to 2022, when he made a series of offensive comments on social media. Those comments saw his accounts on both Instagram and Twitter suspended, and the musician was dropped by his lawyer, talent agency and record label, along with fashion brands such as Balenciaga and Adidas.<\/p>\n<p>At first, West gave several interviews in which he refused to apologise for making the comments, while suggesting that Jewish people should \u201cforgive Hitler\u201d. However, in 2023, West delivered an apology to the Jewish community, and then blamed alcohol for his behaviour the following year.<\/p>\n<p>In the wake of that initial apology, numerous lawsuits were filed against the rapper with claims of extensive anti-Semitic behaviour. One former employee alleged that the rapper said Jewish people were \u201cworking together to hold him back\u201d. Another former employee claimed he used anti-Semitic language in the workplace and praised Hitler \u2013 something for which he allegedly paid a settlement for.<\/p>\n<p>In 2024, a separate ex-employee accused him of being openly anti-Semitic in front of his staff.<\/p>\n<p>West also shared a number of highly controversial posts in early 2025, revoking an apology he previously made to the Jewish community and then declaring himself \u201ca Nazi\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The rapper then claimed on X\/Twitter that, \u201cafter further reflection\u201d, he\u2019d \u201ccome to the realisation that I\u2019m not a Nazi\u201d, however, this was followed only a few days later by yet more swastika apparel appearing on his X page.<\/p>\n<p>In January,\u00a0Ye published a full-page advertisement in the\u00a0<i>Wall Street Journal\u00a0<\/i>apologising for anti-Semitic and other offensive comments. In the letter, he linked his\u00a0behaviour\u00a0to mental health struggles and said he was committed to accountability,\u00a0treatment\u00a0and change.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\" data-io-article-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/san-antonio-mayor-calls-for-kanye-wests-july-4th-alamodome-concert-to-be-cancelled-3952257\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Ye released his latest album \u2018Bully\u2019 in March, after debuting it via a YouTube livestream.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\" data-io-article-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/san-antonio-mayor-calls-for-kanye-wests-july-4th-alamodome-concert-to-be-cancelled-3952257\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Ye released his latest album \u2018Bully\u2019 in March, after debuting it via a YouTube livestream.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/kanye-west-to-perform-in-russia-despite-cultural-boycott-of-country-3963480&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/kanye-west@2000&#215;1270.jpg&#8221;] NewsMusic News Kanye West to perform in Russia despite cultural boycott of country Tickets sold out within hours, and a Russian lawmaker has suggested that the rapper should perform traditional Russian songs at the event By Liberty Dunworth 18th August 2026 Kanye West performs live. CREDIT: Luo Yunfei\/Getty Images Kanye West is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2099892","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2099892","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2099892"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2099892\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2099892"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2099892"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2099892"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}