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Kanye West is heading to India for the first time, adding New Delhi to his expanding 2026 world tour and marking a milestone moment for the country’s fast-rising live music industry.
The rapper and producer, who now goes by Ye, will perform on March 29, 2026, at the 60,000-capacity Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The venue, refurbished ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, has steadily become one of India’s premier stops for global touring acts.
Rolling Stone India reported that the show will follow the format of West’s recent stadium performances, built around sweeping visuals, large-scale staging and a career-spanning setlist. Fans can expect material reaching back to his early 2000s breakthrough, as well as songs from his more recent independent releases.
The Delhi date comes after scheduled appearances in Mexico City earlier in 2026 and ahead of a June 6 performance at the GelreDome in the Netherlands. Another European stop is planned in Italy later in the summer.
West’s long-awaited India debut reflects a broader shift in global touring patterns. International artists once focused almost exclusively on East and Southeast Asian hubs such as Tokyo, Seoul and Singapore. India, despite its size, was often left off routing plans due to logistical and infrastructure hurdles.
That calculus has changed. In 2025 alone, Coldplay played five sold-out shows across Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Travis Scott drew massive crowds in Delhi and Mumbai. Green Day, Guns N’ Roses, Post Malone and Enrique Iglesias also staged high-profile performances. Early 2026 has already seen India's first shows from The Lumineers, YUNGBLUD, Kehlani, John Mayer, Fujii Kaze and Linkin Park, with Def Leppard and Calvin Harris scheduled in the coming months.
Industry executives point to streamlined visa processing and faster customs clearance for production equipment as key improvements. What once required weeks of paperwork can now be moved in a matter of days, making India a more practical addition to multi-country tours.
West’s arrival, however, carries more than musical significance. His career over the past several years has been shadowed by controversy tied to antisemitic remarks made in 2022. The comments led Adidas to end its Yeezy partnership, a split that Forbes estimated reduced his net worth by roughly $1.5 billion. Gap and Balenciaga also cut ties.
Major industry partners followed suit. His longtime manager, talent agency CAA and label Def Jam ended professional relationships. Several streaming platforms briefly limited promotion of his catalog before restoring it.
Legal disputes have continued. A former business manager filed a 2024 lawsuit alleging more than $4.5 million in unpaid fees. Former Yeezy employees have brought claims alleging hostile work conditions and wage violations. Advocacy groups, including the Anti-Defamation League, have urged caution regarding renewed commercial partnerships.
In January 2026, West published a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal titled “To Those I’ve Hurt,” apologising for his antisemitic statements and attributing them to a manic episode linked to bipolar disorder and a prior brain injury. “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people,” he wrote. The Anti-Defamation League called the apology long overdue, while saying future conduct would matter most.
Despite the turbulence, West has continued releasing music independently, including the chart-topping Vultures project with Ty Dolla $ign. The India concert is set to arrive as he prepares to unveil his forthcoming album, Bully, placing Delhi at the center of one of 2026’s most closely watched tour stops.
