Kanye West performs for over 100,000 fans in Istanbul amid European cancellations

Kanye West, also known as Ye, captivated an audience of over 118,000 fans in Istanbul, Turkey, on Saturday evening. The massive turnout occurred even as several European nations have canceled his concerts. Images show West performing on a large globe at the center of the Atatürk Stadium.

The attendees hailed from countries including Turkey, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Italy. This event followed the Italian authorities' announcement of canceled July concerts due to security reasons. West has faced significant backlash for his antisemitic statements and a song titled "Heil Hitler," released in May 2025, shortly after he advertised a swastika-adorned t-shirt on his website.

West has previously stated he regretted his behavior, attributing it to a bipolar diagnosis. In April, the UK denied him entry, leading to the cancellation of a festival where he was scheduled to perform. Concerts in Poland were also canceled, with the country's culture minister having expressed concerns over West's remarks. A planned concert in Marseille, France, was also called off after reports that the French government intended to block it. However, West is still slated to perform in the Netherlands on June 6 and 8.

Kanye West was a dominant figure in the rap scene during the 2000s and 2010s, releasing critically acclaimed albums such as "The College Dropout," "Late Registration," "808s & Heartbreak," and "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy."