Kanye West has added two dates in St. Petersburg to his ongoing world tour. The performances are scheduled for October 10th and 11th at the 70,000-capacity Gazprom Arena. This move comes as part of a series of international stops for the artist this year following previous shows in countries like Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Spain.
The announcement is already causing friction within the Russian government. Lawmaker Nikolay Novichkov has publicly stated that foreign performers should show support for the country's military operations if they plan to work there. He also suggested that the concerts could face cancellation if those conditions are not met. Additionally, officials may review past controversial comments made by West to determine if legal action is appropriate.
West continues his tour despite a history of canceled dates elsewhere. Previous planned performances in the UK, France, and other nations were called off due to venue or government objections tied to his past behavior. These challenges follow a period where the artist faced widespread backlash for antisemitic remarks made in 2022, though he later issued an apology in a publication earlier this year.
The tour currently includes remaining stops in the United States, such as New Orleans and Chicago. Tickets for the St. Petersburg shows are currently available to the public, with pricing tiered for the arena capacity. Whether the shows proceed as planned remains subject to the ongoing scrutiny from regional authorities.