Italy Cancels Kanye West and Travis Scott Concerts in Reggio Emilia Over Security and Protest Concerns

U.S. rappers Kanye West and Travis Scott scheduled for July in Reggio Emilia. The local prefect, Salvatore Angieri, ordered the cancellation on Saturday, May 30, 2026, citing concerns over public order and security, including the potential for protests.

Angieri said the decision followed requests from consumer group CODACONS and the Jewish community in Modena and Reggio Emilia. The prefect noted the close timing of the two shows and the high influx of spectators expected within 24 hours. Authorities also pointed to the cancellation of other Ye concerts in Europe and the concrete risk of protests.

Travis Scott had been due to perform at the Pulse of Gaia Festival on July 17 at the 103,000-seat RCF Arena. Kanye West, also known as Ye, had been scheduled to appear the following day at the same venue. In April, Britain denied Ye entry on the grounds his presence would not be conducive to the public good.

Later that month, he postponed a Marseille show after reports the French government had sought to block it. Concerts in Poland and Switzerland were also cancelled. Ye is due to hold a concert in Istanbul later on Saturday.

He is set to hold concerts in the Netherlands next month after the Dutch migration minister said there were no legal grounds to deny him entry. Scott has faced scrutiny over safety at his concerts since a 2021 crowd crush at the Astroworld festival in Houston that killed 10 people and injured hundreds. There was no immediate comment from Ye, Scott or the event organisers in Italy.