Italian authorities have banned upcoming concerts by Kanye West and Travis Scott that were scheduled for July in Reggio Emilia, citing security risks and potential public order concerns.
West, now known as Ye, was set to headline the Hellwat Festival on July 18 at the RCF Arena, a venue with a capacity of around 103,000 people, in what was expected to be one of his largest arena performances. Travis Scott was scheduled to perform at the same venue a day earlier on July 17.
Reggio Emilia prefect Salvatore Angieri confirmed the cancellation order on Saturday, pointing to heightened security risks following objections from the city’s Jewish community, anti-fascist groups, trade unions and political figures over West’s past antisemitic remarks.
A statement from the festival organizers said they still hope to bring Kanye West to Italy on July 18, but at a different location under a separate jurisdiction.
Kanye West has previously faced widespread criticism and concert cancellations in several countries after making antisemitic statements and releasing controversial material. He issued a public apology in the Wall Street Journal, attributing his behavior to bipolar disorder.
Travis Scott has also remained under scrutiny following the 2021 Astroworld tragedy in Houston, where a crowd crush killed 10 people.
Officials cited the short interval between the two concerts and the expected large influx of spectators as additional risks, alongside concerns over potential protests linked to West’s presence.
Despite the cancellation, West recently launched his summer tour in Istanbul, where a reported 118,000 fans attended a performance at Atatürk Olympic Stadium. He is still scheduled for further shows in Europe, including the Netherlands, Albania and Prague.
