Istanbul: Kanye West made headlines with a historic performance at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, captivating an audience of 118,000 fans in Istanbul, Turkey. This event marked the largest stadium concert attendance in history, according to the American rapper, who shared the milestone with fans on stage.
According to Thai News Agency, the concert was Kanye West’s debut performance in Turkey and his first European appearance since 2014. The two-hour show began with the track “Father” and included hits such as “Runaway,” “Power,” “Heartless,” and “Homecoming,” culminating with his iconic song “Stronger.” The stage setup resembled his grand concerts in Los Angeles, featuring a semicircular structure and advanced projection technology that transformed the stage into a rotating globe.
Local media highlighted that the audience was not solely from Turkey; fans traveled from the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Poland, and countries across the Middle East. The concert was also broadcasted live on Kanye’s official YouTube channel, drawing millions of viewers worldwide in a short span.
Kanye West’s success in Istanbul occurred amid various challenges in Europe. On the day of his concert, Italian authorities canceled his and Travis Scott’s planned July performances due to security and protest concerns from the Jewish community. Earlier in April, the British government barred his entry, resulting in the cancellation of his Wireless Festival appearance in London. Concerts in France and Poland faced similar fates with suspensions and cancellations.
Despite controversy surrounding his actions and statements, Kanye West remains scheduled to perform in the Netherlands, Albania, Georgia, and Spain this summer.