Kanye West draws 118,000 fans at Istanbul concert despite European bans

Kanye West draws 118,000 fans at Istanbul concert despite European bans
U.S. rapper Kanye West performs at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Türkiye, 30 May 2026.
Anadolu Agency
By Naoual Sahel , Reuters
May 31, 2026 14:34
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U.S. rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, performed to a crowd of 118,000 people in Istanbul on Saturday night, marking his first concert in Europe in more than a decade, despite being barred from performing in several countries over past antisemitic remarks.

The concert, held at Istanbul's Ataturk Olympic Stadium, was Ye's first appearance in Europe since 2014 and his first performance in Türkiye. According to Anadolu Agency, fans travelled from across Europe and the Middle East to attend the two-hour show.

Audience members came from countries including Britain, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Russia and Poland, Anadolu reported.

Return to Europe

The performance comes after a turbulent period for the 48-year-old artist, whose controversial statements and actions have led to widespread criticism and a series of cancelled appearances.

Ye has faced a strong backlash in recent years over antisemitic comments, including remarks praising Adolf Hitler, as well as the use of Nazi imagery in some of his content.

Criticism intensified following the release of "Heil Hitler", a song promoting Nazism, which prompted renewed condemnation from politicians, campaign groups and members of the public.

Despite the controversy, thousands of fans packed the stadium in Istanbul, highlighting the artist's continued ability to draw large audiences.

Concerts cancelled across Europe

Several planned appearances in Europe were cancelled or postponed this year.

In April, British authorities denied Ye entry to the country, saying his presence would not be conducive to the public good. The decision led to the cancellation of a planned appearance at London's Wireless Festival.

Later the same month, a concert in Marseille was postponed after reports that French authorities had sought to prevent the event from going ahead. A planned performance in Poland was also cancelled.

The cancellations followed growing pressure on event organisers and governments over whether the rapper should be allowed to perform following his repeated antisemitic statements.

Attempt to rebuild his image

In January, Ye sought to distance himself from his previous comments by taking out a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal.

In the advertisement, he renounced his past admiration for Hitler and apologised for his behaviour. He said his actions had been influenced by an undiagnosed brain injury and untreated bipolar disorder.

Whether the apology will help repair his reputation remains unclear, but his appearance in Istanbul suggests that significant audiences remain willing to attend his performances despite the controversies that continue to surround him.

Ye is scheduled to perform in the Netherlands on 6 and 8 June as part of his ongoing return to the European stage.

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