Barney Davis

| Night News Editor

Published October 1, 2026 4:26pm Updated October 1, 2026 5:42pm

Kanye West will not appear in Russia after two huge gigs were cancelled at the last moment.

The Heil Hitler rapper had been due to perform in St Petersburg next month but a disagreement over contracts had left the shows in limbo.

Now promoters Say ​Agency announced the shows had been pulled altogether.

‘Friends, it is with sincere regret that we inform you that the ​YE concerts in St. Petersburg will not be able to take place on the scheduled dates.

‘We will issue an official statement regarding the status of ​the project and our future plans in the near future,’ the promoters said on Telegram.

Rapper Kanye West, left, shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018. West, a recording artist and prominent Trump supporter, is at the White House to have lunch with the president and to meet with presidential son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner who has spearheaded the administrations efforts overhaul the criminal justice system. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Sorry St Petersburg but there will not be similar photos with Putin as Kanye will not appear next month (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Even cancelled in Russia, West was barred from headlining Wireless Festival in London following a series of antisemitic remarks, including praise for Adolf Hitler, and the use of Nazi imagery in his shows.

While Wireless bosses backed platforming Ye for three nights, they ultimately had to call off the whole event after the Home Office refused to grant West a UK visa.

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 14: Rapper Kanye West performs onstage during the "Vultures 1" playback concert during Rolling Loud 2024 the at Hollywood Park Grounds on March 14, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)

Rapper Kanye West can’t even get a gig in Russia these days (Picture: Getty)

Despite this, sources say he has ‘not given up on his dream of performing in the UK again.’

An insider told The Sun: ‘He knows that it takes time to convince and persuade authorities but is willing to work with them so that they have a better understanding of his prior bipolar episode.

‘Ye has a huge fan base in the UK and is determined to come here and perform again. He has a long history of live shows and major festival appearances in the UK and has an affinity for the country and its people.’

Kanye apology

Ye apologised for his previous antisemitic behaviour (Picture: WSJ)

West has apologised for his actions, even performatively hugging a rabbi as he blamed the antisemitism on a manic bipolar episode.

In a message on X, he said: ‘I know it takes time to understand the sincerity of my commitment to make amends. I take full responsibility for what’s mine but I don’t want to put my fans in the middle of it.

‘My fans are everything to me. Looking forward to the next shows. See you at the top of the globe.’

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