Kanye West’s planned concert in Poland has been called off, marking the latest setback for the rapper as criticism over his past antisemitic remarks continues to grow. The development comes shortly after disruptions to his scheduled appearances in London and France.
The concert was slated to take place on June 19, 2026, at the Silesian Stadium in Chorzów. However, on April 17, stadium director Adam Strzyzewski confirmed that the event would no longer go ahead.
“We would like to inform you that the Ye (Kanye West) concert planned for 19 June 2026 at the... Slaski stadium will not take place due to formal and legal reasons,” he said in a statement shared on Facebook, as reported by Reuters.
While no detailed explanation was provided, the decision follows mounting public and political opposition to the performance.
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Polish minister calls performance ‘unacceptable’
Even before the official announcement, Poland’s Culture Minister Marta Cienkowska had strongly criticised the decision to host the rapper.
“The decision to organise a Kanye West concert in Poland is unacceptable,” she wrote on X.
“We are talking about an artist who has publicly expressed antisemitic views, downplayed crimes, and profited from selling swastika T-shirts. These are not ‘controversies.’ This is a deliberate crossing of boundaries and the normalisation of hatred.”
She further added, “In a country scarred by the history of the Holocaust, we cannot pretend that this is just entertainment. Artistic freedom does not mean giving a free pass to everything. Culture cannot be a space for those who exploit it to spread hatred.”
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Historical context deepens concerns
The backlash in Poland carries particular weight given the country’s history during World War II. Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939 marked the beginning of the war, and millions of Jews and Polish citizens were killed under occupation.
Against this backdrop, criticism intensified over allowing an artist who has previously made controversial remarks, including statements perceived as praising Adolf Hitler.
Tour disruptions across Europe
The Poland cancellation follows a string of disruptions to Kanye West’s European appearances. The United Kingdom barred the rapper from entering the country for a scheduled performance at the Wireless Festival. Around the same time, his concert in France was postponed.
West has not issued any public response to the latest cancellation.
