The concert in Portugal proceeded despite pressure to cancel it, a stance mirrored by several other nations. Australia denied the rapper entry, and the United Kingdom imposed a similar restriction. France, Poland, Italy and the Czech Republic also called off portions of the tour, branded as the “Ye” tour.
The performance in Portugal went ahead despite objections, including a visa refusal from Australia and restrictions in the United Kingdom. Other European nations such as France, Poland, Italy and the Czech Republic also halted parts of the “Ye” tour.
In Portugal, the Israeli ambassador emerged as one of the most vocal critics urging the cancellation of the rapper’s show, yet the event still took place. According to multiple Portuguese media outlets and social media reports, the concert proceeded without incident.
Winner of 24 Grammy Awards (source in Portuguese), Kanye West ranks among the most celebrated Grammy artists in history, alongside Jay‑Z, the most decorated figure in hip‑hop. He took the stage at the Algarve Stadium 45 minutes after the scheduled start time.
Standing atop a massive globe positioned on the field, West performed hits including “Stronger”, “Gold Digger”, “American Boy” and “I Can’t Wait”. He invited his daughter, North West, to join him for a duet and made no controversial remarks or speeches, diverging from his recent behavior.
This marked the third occasion the US artist has performed in Portugal. His first appearance was in 2006 at Cool Jazz in Oeiras, followed by a 2011 set at the Sudoeste Festival in Zambujeira do Mar.
West’s global tour, launched to promote his 12th studio album, “Bully”, has been beset by controversy, largely due to past antisemitic statements and declarations of support for Nazism.
“Someone who glorified Hitler, promoted antisemitism and claimed that slavery was a choice – a phrase that deeply offended millions of descendants of slavery victims. This is not provocation, it is hate speech”, said Israeli ambassador Oren Rozenblat in Lisbon when he appealed on social media for the concert to be cancelled, describing the event as “a shame for Portugal and for the Portuguese”.
In a full‑page notice published in the Wall Street Journal (source in Portuguese), the artist sought to apologize for past antisemitic remarks. He described his conduct as “a four‑month manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour” and admitted having “lost touch with reality”.
The Algarve concert was never the target of public or media backlash in Portugal. The event’s organizer told Euronews it was “a non‑issue”, attributing criticism to “misinformation” and warning that it risked being turned into a political matter when it should not be. As the CEO and co‑founder of Raya Culture remarked in April, “It would become a [political] issue if the authorities identified a national threat to public order, which is not the case”.
However, West’s controversies extend beyond antisemitism and hate speech.
The rapper has, both online and in public appearances, shared moments involving his wife, Bianca Censori, which have been widely perceived as degrading and sexist.
Among the many controversies surrounding Kanye “Ye” West are several recent legal actions, including complaints from former employees alleging abuse, and a lawsuit filed by a former assistant who accuses him of sexual assault, claiming he strangled a model on the set of a music video in 2010.
Following the Algarve performance, West is scheduled to appear in Kazakhstan at Almaty’s Central Stadium on 14 August, before returning to the United States for two concerts. The first shows are set for New Orleans on 28 August and Chicago on 3 September 2026.
