Kanye West to perform in Tirana, Albanian Prime Minister confirms

A  Kanye West show in Albania is set to go ahead this summer, despite widespread cancellations of his shows across Europe.

The rapper, who now goes by Ye, released his new album ‘ Bully ’ in March and had been due to play a world tour, but  his booking to headline all three nights of London’s Wireless Festival sparked an enormous backlash  over his previous antisemitic comments.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer was among those to criticise the booking ,  several sponsors cut their ties with the festival , and ultimately the UK Home Office blocked Ye from being allowed into the country.  Wireless eventually announced that they had cancelled their entire 2026 event .

Since then, shows in  Switzerland ,  Poland  and  France  have also been cancelled, but it appears that at least one is set to go ahead – in Tirana, Albania.

Last week (April 30), the country’s president Edi Rama posted on Facebook to say that the rapper would be playing at the capital city on July 11. The country’s Ministry of Culture has said: “In every aspect, it is our obligation to welcome and facilitate the development of such events that bring numerous benefits to tourism and the economy.”

There are unconfirmed reports that there are plans for a temporary venue to be built in Tirana for the show.

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The rapper recently shared a  fresh apology for his past remarks  shortly before Wireless was axed. He also later addressed the criticism  in an update  to his  Wall Street Journal  “to those I’ve hurt” letter , which he originally shared in January.

West’s history of making antisemitic remarks dates back to 2022, when he made a series of offensive comments on social media. Those comments  saw his accounts on both Instagram and Twitter suspended,  and the musician was  dropped by his lawyer, talent agency and record label,  along with fashion brands such as  Balenciaga  and  Adidas .

At first, West gave several interviews  refusing to apologise for making the comments  while suggesting that  Jewish people should “forgive Hitler”.  However, in 2023, West delivered  an apology to the Jewish community , going on to  blame alcohol for his behaviour the following year.

In the wake of that initial apology, numerous lawsuits were filed against the rapper with claims of extensive antisemitic behaviour. One former employee alleged that  the rapper said Jewish people were “working together to hold him back” .

Another former employee claimed he used antisemitic language in the workplace and praised Hitler  – something for which he allegedly paid a settlement for. In 2024, a separate ex-employee  accused him of being openly antisemitic in front of his staff .

West also shared a number of  highly controversial posts in early 2025 , when he  took back an apology he previously made to the Jewish community for antisemitic remarks , and then declared himself “a Nazi”. The rapper then claimed on X/Twitter that, “after further reflection”, he’d “come to the realisation that I’m not a Nazi”,  followed  only a few days later by yet more swastika apparel appearing on his X page .

The post Albanian Prime Minister announces Kanye West concert in Tirana appeared first on NME .

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