Government funding of Kanye West Albania show sparks backlash
The government has been forced to defend a €4m contribution to the controversial rapper's show amid mass anti-corruption protests
News By Hanna Ellington | 13 July 2026
Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, delivered one of Albania’s biggest concerts on Saturday (11 July), drawing criticism of the government’s financial support for the project amid weeks of mass anti-government protests in the capital city.
The controversial artist drew an estimated 60,000 people to a purpose-built temporary stadium in Tirana, which was authorised as part of a wider tourism push by Albanian officials, including the country’s Prime Minister Edi Rama. To facilitate the opportunity, the government…
You've used your free article this month
Continue reading with a free account, or subscribe for unlimited access to all of our news, features and reports.
