A Russian stadium scheduled to host two concerts by US rapper Kanye West has said the shows will no longer take place at the venue.

St Petersburg’s Gazprom Arena said no rental agreement had been signed with the concert organisers, meaning the performances could not go ahead at the stadium.

The concerts, scheduled for 10 and 11 October, were expected to make West the first major Western performer to perform in Russia since the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The venue said it had received complaints about the rapper’s planned appearance but stressed that it was not responsible for organising the concerts.

The Moscow-based Say Agency, which promoted the shows, said it was surprised by the stadium’s announcement.

The agency said it had announced the concerts based on an official letter from Gazprom Arena and claimed the venue had later sent a rental agreement. Although the contract had not been signed, the agency said the deadline for signing it had not yet passed.

“As of now, the Ye concert has not been canceled,” the agency said, adding that it was attempting to contact the stadium to resolve the situation.

The uncertainty comes after Gazprom Arena had previously promoted the concerts, describing West as one of the most influential musical artists of his time.

West, who is also known as Ye, has faced significant backlash in recent years over a series of antisemitic remarks. Several major brands ended their partnerships with him following his comments.

He later apologised for his behaviour, saying he was deeply sorry for his actions.

His 2026 tour has already been affected by cancellations in several European countries, with his past comments cited among the concerns surrounding his performances.

There has been opposition to his planned Russian concerts from some Russian politicians. Conservative lawmaker Vitaly Milonov criticised the booking, suggesting that West should perform traditional Russian songs instead.

Despite the controversy, Say Agency defended its decision to bring the rapper to Russia, saying that his past comments should not be the only basis on which he is judged.

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Fans who had purchased tickets expressed disappointment following Gazprom Arena’s announcement.

The BBC has contacted West’s representatives for comment on the uncertainty surrounding the Russian concerts.

For now, the future of the planned October performances remains unclear, with the promoter insisting that the concerts have not been cancelled despite the venue saying they cannot take place there.

(BBC News)