Italy has blocked planned July concerts by Kanye West and Travis Scott in Reggio Emilia, turning one of the country’s biggest summer festival bookings into a public-order fight.
Scott had been scheduled to perform July 17 at RCF Arena, with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, listed for July 18 as part of the Pulse of Gaia Festival. Reuters reported that Reggio Emilia prefect Salvatore Angieri ordered the concerts canceled over public-order and security concerns.
Authorities cited the back-to-back timing of the two shows, the expected movement of large crowds within 24 hours, and a “concrete risk” of protests.
Italy bans Kanye West and Travis Scott concerts over security concerns https://t.co/yNZLcpTKih
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) May 30, 2026
Officials Cited Crowd Flow, Safety, and Protest Risk
The two concerts were scheduled for the 103,000-seat RCF Arena. Reuters reported that officials looked at the close timing of the shows and the large number of fans expected to move through the area across the same 24-hour period.
The review followed requests from Italian consumer group Codacons and the Jewish community in Modena and Reggio Emilia, which raised concerns about Ye’s scheduled appearance.
Ye has faced repeated backlash over antisemitic remarks, statements praising Adolf Hitler, and content using Nazi imagery. Scott has also remained under scrutiny over concert safety since the 2021 Astroworld crowd crush in Houston, where 10 people died and hundreds were injured.
Ye’s European Shows Keep Running Into Barriers
The Reggio Emilia decision adds another setback to Ye’s attempted return to major European stages.
Reuters reported that Britain denied Ye entry in April on the grounds that his presence would not be conducive to the public good. A Marseille show was also postponed after reports that French officials wanted to block it, while concerts in Poland and Switzerland were canceled.
Ye has apologized for past remarks and linked some of his behavior to untreated bipolar disorder. Reuters reported that he is still scheduled for other European dates, including shows in the Netherlands after Dutch officials said they had not found legal grounds to deny him entry.
The Festival Team Is Threatening Legal Action
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The cancellation may not end with the prefecture’s order. Sky TG24 reported that the Hellwatt Festival team reacted with a harsh public statement and said it would collect evidence to evaluate a class action against the company managing RCF Arena.
The team urged ticket buyers to save documentation tied to tickets, travel costs, and other expenses. Sky TG24 reported that Hellwatt also accused C.Volo S.p.A. of publicly cutting ties with festival founder Victor Yari Milani without legal justification.
That response shifts the story from a cancellation notice into a dispute involving public safety, ticket holders, festival organizers, and the venue’s management.
Reggio Emilia’s Mayor Said Refunds Are the Priority
Reggio Emilia mayor Marco Massari said the urgent priority is refunding people who bought tickets, according to Sky TG24.
Massari said the city had already expressed concern about hosting artists whose public positions could create additional problems, while also saying RCF Arena remains an important asset for Reggio Emilia.
Reuters reported that Ye, Scott, and the Italian event organizers had not issued immediate public comment on the ban. For fans, the next practical question is how quickly refunds and any related ticket-buyer claims are handled.