Kanye West to perform two concerts in Saint Petersburg

American rapper Kanye West, known as Ye, is scheduled to perform two concerts at the 70,000-seat Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg on October 10 and 11. These performances mark him as one of the most prominent Western artists to visit Russia since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, a period during which most international musicians have avoided the country. Tickets for the events, ranging from 9,000 to 160,000 rubles (approximately 92 to 1,642 euros), sold out within hours of being released.

Following reports of his visit, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov addressed inquiries regarding a potential meeting between West and President Vladimir Putin during a press briefing. Peskov dismissed the possibility, stating that such an encounter does not fall under the administration's responsibilities. The rapper’s tour has previously faced significant complications, including an entry ban in Britain earlier this April, which resulted in event cancellations amid controversies surrounding his public statements.

The upcoming concerts have sparked polarized reactions, largely due to the artist's controversial reputation and his history of making antisemitic remarks, which have led to bans in various European venues. There is no official indication of further state involvement or changes to the planned itinerary as of late August.