Kanye West to perform in Tirana on July 11 as Albania pushes to become events hub
Kanye West, also known as Ye, will perform in Tirana on July 11, Albania’s culture minister said, casting the concert as a milestone in efforts to make the country a destination for major cultural events. “The July 11 concert marks a new step in making Albania a destination for major cultural events,” Culture Minister Blendi Gonxhe said.
A special structure is being built for the show to accommodate 60,000 people, he added. West has been known for glorifying Adolf Hitler and for antisemitic and hate-filled rants, which he has attributed to his bipolar disorder. The 48-year-old musician has lost fans and several sponsorships in recent years following inflammatory comments and actions.
His planned performance in Albania comes after a series of cancellations elsewhere in Europe. Britain said it has blocked West from entering the country, prompting the cancellation of a London music festival where he had been scheduled to perform over three nights in July.
In Poland, a stadium that was due to host his June 19 show also canceled, and Culture Minister Marta Cienkowska said earlier that West’s widely discussed actions, linked to his promotion of Nazism, are in manifest contradiction with Poland’s values. Albania’s bet on a large-scale West concert underscores its broader push to draw major cultural spectacles to Tirana.
Officials are positioning the July event as a showcase for the capital’s capacity to host high-profile shows, with more details expected as the date approaches.