Kanye West is playing two huge shows in Russia this October. Here's the full story: why he's going there, what he's playing, his biggest songs right now, and why so many countries won't let him perform.

Why Is Kanye Touring in Russia?

Kanye, aka Ye, booked two shows at Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg on October 10 and 11, 2026. The arena holds around 70,000 people, and tickets sold out within hours. That makes him the biggest Western musician to perform in Russia since it invaded Ukraine back in 2022.

The simple reason he's playing there: he can't play almost anywhere else in Europe right now. Over the past year, several countries canceled his shows or blocked him from entering entirely, so Russia is one of the few big stages still open to him.

What Album Is He Playing?

The tour is called the Ye Live Tour, and it's built around his newest album, Bully. It came out in March 2026 and is his 12th studio album. Shows also mix in older fan favorites like "Power," "Mercy," "Black Skinhead," and "Runaway".

Kanye's Top 5 Songs From Bully Right Now

Bully has 18 songs on it, and these five are pulling in the most streams and chart attention since it came out:

  1. Father (feat. Travis Scott) — the album's biggest song so far, and the only Bully track to crack the top 25 of the Billboard Hot 100.
  2. All the Love (feat. André Troutman) — right behind "Father" in first-week streams.
  3. King — the album's opening track, and one of its most-played songs.
  4. Preacher Man — released early as a preview single, and still one of the album's most streamed tracks.
  5. Beauty and the Beast — another early preview single that's held onto strong streaming numbers.

Ranked using Spotify streaming totals and Billboard Hot 100 performance since Bully's release.

Kanye's Biggest Song Right Now: "Father"

The clearest sign of where Bully is landing is "Father," Kanye's team-up with Travis Scott. It's the album's most-streamed track and the only song from Bully to crack the top 25 of the Billboard Hot 100.

The official video for "Father," the biggest song on Bully so far.

Why Was Kanye Banned From Europe?

Over the past couple of years, Kanye has made a string of controversial remarks, including antisemitic comments, that led promoters and governments to distance themselves from him. Because of that, the UK blocked him from entering the country, which sank his Wireless Festival appearance, and countries including Italy, France, Poland, and Switzerland pulled the plug on his shows too.

VibeSynced Particles That Match Kanye's Sound

Kanye's catalog swings from hard-hitting, maximalist production to slower, more atmospheric tracks. Here are the VibeSynced particle scenes that fit best. Tap one to jump straight into the app with that particle already running.

Listen to Kanye's music on VibeSynced

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