Albania’s government has defended its decision to provide financial support for a Kanye West concert in Tirana, saying the event will boost tourism, attract international attention and create long-term opportunities for the country’s events industry, despite criticism over the cost and controversy surrounding the US rapper.
West, who now performs under the name Ye, has faced cancellations and restrictions in several countries because of his antisemitic statements. The rapper has previously apologised for some remarks and attributed some of his behaviour to mental health struggles.
Albanian officials have focused on the economic and promotional benefits of the concert, saying the event will bring tens of thousands of visitors and help strengthen the country’s position on the international tourism map.
Prime Minister Edi Rama and Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja inspected final preparations on July 7 for the July 11 concert, with authorities saying thousands of workers are racing to complete a temporary stadium infrastructure expected to host visitors from around the world.
The Albanian government has allocated around €4mn in support for the event, a decision that has drawn criticism from opposition figures and civil society groups who questioned whether public funds should be used for a private concert.
Rama said the state intervention was necessary to ensure the event could proceed after thousands of ticket holders from around 80 countries had already made plans to attend.
"The Albanian state was forced to intervene only yesterday to give not tens of millions of euros as the crows and ravens of the boulevard say, but €4mn,” Rama said, according to a government statement.
He argued that international events could generate wider economic benefits, comparing the concert with the 2022 UEFA Conference League final held in Tirana, which he said had delivered a major boost for tourism.
"€4mn at the last minute, not to embarrass Albania, in the eyes of nearly 25,000 foreigners from 80 countries whose citizens have bought tickets for Kanye West on time, while many others are scared of the concert being canceled; not to miss a fantastic opportunity to promote Tourist Albania, for one of the largest communities in the world, music lovers," Rama wrote on Facebook.
Rama said reservations on booking platforms had increased sharply for the concert weekend and estimated the economic impact could reach €100mn.
The government has faced criticism and accusations of hypocricy over hosting West, who has attracted international condemnation for antisemitic comments and public controversies in recent years.
The concert takes place after weeks of anti-government protests sparked by a planned development within a protected area of the Albanian coast by developers linked to US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The Albanian Jewish Community previously warned that giving the rapper a public platform risked normalising rhetoric targeting Jewish people, while opposition lawmakers called for the event to be cancelled.
Gonxhja defended the decision, describing the concert as a major opportunity for Albania’s international profile.
"Even the Germans who know us better, were surprised," Gonxhja said, referring to foreign technical teams involved in preparations. "European groups from England, France, and the Netherlands are all surprised by the conditions and the Albanian ambition with 65,000 square metres, an improvised stadium."
He said the project involved around 3,500 workers and required round-the-clock operations because of its technical complexity.
"Here we are not working for an event, here we are working to have a reputation that if we succeed with all the elements and we believe we will succeed in being where we need to be in this organisation, it will be something that will exist for 10 years," Gonxhja said.
Authorities said the temporary venue and associated infrastructure represented one of the most ambitious entertainment projects undertaken in Albania. The government hopes successful delivery will help position Tirana as a destination for future international concerts and large-scale events.
Critics, however, have argued that the money could have been directed towards social priorities. Civic Centre executive director Rigels Xhemollari said the funds could instead have supported youth and cultural programmes.
“€4.23mn in one day … for Kanye West. No money for electric buses! There is no money for medicine! There is money for the show!” he wrote on Facebook.
“With this much money cultural and educational summer camps could have been organised for 15,000 children for 30 days, while you spent them on one spectacular day!”
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