Approximately 34,000 fans gathered at the Estádio do Algarve in Portugal on Friday to attend a concert by the US rapper Kanye West, who is also known as Ye. The event proceeded as planned, despite significant international pressure to cancel the show. West has faced widespread tour cancellations across various nations, including France, Italy, Poland, and Czechia, while the United Kingdom and Australia have previously denied the artist entry, with Australia refusing him a visa.
In Portugal, the most prominent public voice advocating for the cancellation of the concert was the Israeli ambassador to Lisbon, Oren Rozenblat. Taking to social media, Rozenblat argued that the performance would be a "disgrace for Portugal and for the Portuguese." He specifically cited West's history of antisemitic hate speech, his declarations of support for Nazism, his glorification of Hitler, and his controversial claim that slavery was a choice—a statement that the ambassador noted deeply offended millions of descendants of slavery victims. Rozenblat emphasized that these actions were not mere provocations but constituted hate speech.
Despite these calls, the concert went ahead without incident. The event organizer, Raya Culture, maintained that the show was a "non-issue" fueled by "misinformation." In April, the CEO and co-founder of the organization suggested that the situation was being unfairly turned into a political issue. He stressed that it was a musical event and would only become a political concern if authorities identified a national threat to public order, which he stated was not the case.
This performance marked the third time the rapper has performed in Portugal, following his debut in 2006 at the Cool Jazz festival in Oeiras and a 2011 appearance at the Sudoeste Festival in Zambujeira do Mar. West, who is one of the most awarded artists in Grammy history with 24 wins, took the stage 45 minutes after the scheduled start time. Performing from atop a giant globe positioned on the pitch, he delivered well-known tracks such as "Stronger," "Gold Digger," "American Boy," and "I Can't Wait." He also invited his daughter, North West, to join him on stage for a duet. Notably, he refrained from making the controversial remarks or speeches that have marked his recent public appearances.
The international tour, which is promoting his 12th album, "Bully," remains surrounded by controversy. Beyond the concerns regarding antisemitism, West has faced criticism for his public behavior involving his wife, Bianca Censori, which has been described by many as sexist and deplorable. Furthermore, the artist is currently the subject of several legal cases, including complaints from former staff members alleging abuse. He is also facing a lawsuit from a former assistant who has accused him of sexual assault and alleged that he strangled a model on the set of a music video in 2010.
Following the conclusion of the Algarve concert, West is scheduled to perform at the Central Stadium in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 14 August. He is then set to return to the United States for two additional shows, with a concert in New Orleans on 28 August, followed by a performance in Chicago on 3 September 2026.
