Kanye West concert cancelled in Reggio Emilia over safety concerns

The city prefect of Reggio Emilia, Salvatore Angieri, has cancelled a concert by Kanye West (who changed his name to Ye in 2021) scheduled for 18 July at the Pulse of Gaia festival at the RCF Arena, according to the Guardian and Euronews. The decision came after what the Guardian described as "concerns" about public order and safety, though neither outlet provided specific details of the prefect's reasoning. The cancellation also affected a Travis Scott performance at the same venue, Euronews reported.

The RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia is one of northern Italy's largest concert venues, hosting major international acts and music festivals. The Pulse of Gaia festival had positioned the performances as headline events, and the cancellation represents a significant disruption to the summer music calendar in Emilia-Romagna. The decision reflects the authority vested in Italian prefects—representatives of the national government at the provincial level—to restrict public gatherings on grounds of public order.

Neither the Guardian nor Euronews reported the artist's or the festival's response to the cancellation, nor did they provide further detail on the specific safety concerns that prompted the prefect's decision. The cancellation adds to a pattern of scrutiny surrounding the artist in recent years, though the outlets did not elaborate on whether the decision related to past incidents or to anticipated risks specific to the Reggio Emilia event.