FC Basel has canceled a planned Kanye West concert at its St. Jakob-Park stadium in Switzerland. Club representatives confirmed the decision after reviewing the booking request.
“FCB received an enquiry and considered it,” the representatives stated. “However, after thorough review, we have decided not to proceed with the project, as we cannot, in accordance with our values, provide a platform for the artist in question within this context.”
Wave of European Cancellations
This Swiss cancellation marks the latest in a series of scrapped European shows for West’s 2026 world tour, which supports his new album Bully. Organizers of London’s Wireless Festival, where West was set to headline all three days—his first UK performances since 2015—canceled the appearances after the UK governt barred his entry.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer voiced strong concerns, stating it was “deeply concerning that Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism.” Sponsors including Pepsi, Diageo, PayPal, and Rockstar Energy withdrew support amid the backlash, intensifying pressure on festival promoters.
West also indefinitely postponed a concert at Marseille’s Velodrome in France, describing it as his sole decision. French authorities are examining options to restrict his entry due to past antisemitic statements. On April 18, a scheduled performance at Poland’s Silesian Stadium in Chorzów—West’s first in the country in 15 years—fell through for formal and legal reasons.
Poland’s Culture Minister Marta Cienkowska criticized the booking, declaring, “We cannot pretend that this is just entertaint. We are talking about an artist who has publicly made anti-Semitic remarks, relativised crimes, and profited from selling T-shirts with a swastika. These are not ‘controversies.’ This is a deliberate crossing of a boundary and a normalisation of hate.” She added that culture cannot “be a space for those who use it to spread contempt.”
West’s Apology Amid Controversy
In response to the Wireless Festival uproar, West updated his January Wall Street Journal letter “to those I’ve hurt.” He wrote, “I’ve been following the conversation around Wireless and want to address it directly. My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through music. I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Jewish community in the UK in person, to listen. I know words aren’t enough – I’ve had to show change through my actions. If you’re open, I’m here. With Love.”
Tour Continues Despite Setbacks
West launched the 2026 tour earlier this month at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Confirmed dates remain for New Delhi, India (May 23); Istanbul, Turkey (May 30); Arnhem, Netherlands (June 6 and 8); Reggio Emilia, Italy (July 18); Madrid, Spain (July 30); and Loulé, Portugal (August 7).
