Kanye West is scheduled to perform in Russia for two sold-out shows in St. Petersburg on October 10 and 11 at the Gazprom Arena, according to The Guardian. These concerts mark the artist's return to Russia and make him one of the most prominent Western artists to perform there since the country's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Ticket prices ranged from $105 to over $1,850.
West's career has been significantly impacted by public antisemitic outbursts, for which he apologized in January. He attributed his behavior to a brain injury sustained in a 2002 car accident, which he believes triggered his bipolar disorder. In an advertisement published in The Wall Street Journal earlier this year, West apologized for past rhetoric and expressions of admiration for Adolf Hitler, stating that his illness had detached him from his "true self" and drawn him toward "the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika."
Despite his apology, shows planned for Poland and France were canceled in April due to formal, legal, or political resistance. The UK's Home Office also banned West from entering the country for a festival appearance in London.
In contrast to his difficulties in Europe, West has recently performed to large audiences elsewhere. He held concerts in the United States and Mexico City this year, with a May 30 show in Istanbul reportedly drawing 118,000 attendees. A June 12 concert in Tbilisi, Georgia, attracted 70,000 people, and a sold-out show in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on a Saturday drew 30,000.
The upcoming Russian performances have drawn attention from at least one Russian politician. Nikolay Novichkov reportedly called for an investigation into West's past comments praising Hitler and suggested the concerts should be canceled unless West expresses "moral support for Russia and the special military operation." West has previously performed in the UK in 2014, and was pictured with his wife Bianca Censori in February 2025.