Aug. 17, 2026 Yasin Akgul / AFP The rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, is set to perform two concerts in St. Petersburg this October, the Russian event promoter Say Agency announced Monday. The performances will take place on Oct. 10 and 11 at the Gazprom Arena, a venue capable of hosting around 80,000 spectators. Tickets are already on sale, with prices ranging from 9,000 rubles ($106) to 160,000 rubles ($1,880) for VIP boxes. Say Agency, one of Russia’s top organizers for international music acts, has previously brought artists such as Lil Pump, Flo Rida, Akon and Jason Derulo to the country. Ye’s St. Petersburg shows follow several major international appearances across the region, including a record-breaking concert in Istanbul, Turkey that drew 118,000 fans, a 70,000-person show in Tbilisi, Georgia and a recent August performance in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Ye previously visited Moscow in 2024 to celebrate the birthday of fashion designer and collaborator Gosha Rubchinskiy. Rumors of a performance at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium circulated at the time. The rapper has drawn controversy in recent years for his antisemitic remarks. He has previously voiced admiration for Adolf Hitler, and in May 2025, he released a song called “Heil Hitler.” Ye’s scheduled performances in Russia appear unusual given the Kremlin’s claim that it is fighting against neo-Nazis in Ukraine, while it also positions itself as the foremost protector of “historical truth” regarding the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. In April, he was barred from entering the United Kingdom over his anti-Semitic remarks. His shows have been canceled across Europe since then, including in Italy and Poland. Read more about: Music , St. Petersburg Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more ‘Carousel Arrests’: Inside Russia’s Tactic for Keeping Detainees Locked Up The St. Petersburg street band Stoptime's members are the latest people to face repeated administrative arrests in Russia. 5 Min read Singing These Songs in Russia Could Land You in Jail Stoptime rose to viral fame this fall with its performances of popular anti-Putin and anti-war anthems in St. Petersburg. Its members are now in jail. 3 Min read ‘You’re Afraid of Poems and Love’: Singer Monetochka Pens Verse in Support of Jailed St. Petersburg Street Musicians Monetochka read the lines condemning the authorities at a concert in Valencia on Sunday. 2 Min read St. Petersburg Street Musician Arrested After Viral Anti-Putin Performance Diana Loginova was filmed earlier this week leading a crowd in central St. Petersburg in singing the lyrics to the exiled rapper Noize MC’s hit song... 2 Min read
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