Kanye West reportedly commenced his first European tour in 11 years with a historic performance at Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium on Saturday, May 30. The acclaimed rapper drew an estimated crowd of 118,000 attendees, a figure he claimed set a new record for the largest stadium performance in history. According to Türkiye Today, West addressed the massive audience, stating, “I just want to tell y’all, we just broke the record, 118,000, largest stadium performance of all time.” The event, which began at 9 p.m. local time, transcended a typical concert, transforming into an all-night festival-style gathering. It featured dynamic DJ sets, elaborate laser and light shows, pre- and after-party events, and performances by various Turkish artists, including Yener Cevik, Mavi, Sena Sener, Pera, and Motive. The show attracted a diverse international audience, with fans traveling from countries such as Russia, Kazakhstan, the U.K., Germany, the U.S., and Poland. To manage the significant influx of attendees, organizers opened the stadium gates as early as 3 p.m., leading to crowded metro platforms and corridors across Istanbul as the performance time approached. Travis Scott also made a guest appearance on stage alongside West during the show.

The Istanbul concert served as a significant opening for West’s European tour, especially following a summer marked by several cancellations and postponements across the continent. Earlier in April, the U.K. government had denied West entry, citing that his presence “would not be conducive to the public good.” This decision led to the cancellation of his headline slot at the Wireless Festival, an event that had already lost major sponsors like PepsiCo and Diageo. Furthermore, a planned concert in Marseille was postponed due to attempts by French officials to block the event, and other shows scheduled for Poland and Switzerland were also called off. On the very day of the Istanbul performance, Italian authorities issued a ban preventing West and Travis Scott from performing at a July show in the 103,000-seat RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia. This ban was imposed due to security concerns, prompted by requests from consumer group CODACONS and Jewish communities in Modena and Reggio Emilia.

The controversies surrounding Kanye West, particularly the European bans, are largely linked to his past antisemitic statements. These statements included remarks praising Adolf Hitler, the release of content featuring Nazi imagery, and a song titled “Heil Hitler.” West has publicly attributed these controversial comments to manic episodes resulting from untreated bipolar disorder. He later published a full-page apology in the Wall Street Journal in January 2026. Despite the various prohibitions, several countries have granted permission for West to perform. His confirmed upcoming tour dates include performances in the Netherlands on June 6 and 8, Tirana, Albania on July 11, and additional stops in Georgia and Spain later in the summer.

Beyond his tour endeavors, West has maintained a significant commercial presence. His latest studio album, “Bully,” notably debuted at No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart upon its release earlier in the year. Throughout his illustrious career, West has amassed an impressive record of 24 Grammy Awards and achieved 10 No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, solidifying his status as one of the most decorated artists in chart history.