Kanye West postponed his long-awaited Almaty concert just minutes before he was due to perform on Friday after a major power outage was followed by thunderstorms, strong winds and heavy rain.
The rapper, who performs as Ye, was scheduled to take the stage at Almaty’s Central Stadium at 9 p.m. on August 14. Thousands of fans had already entered the venue when organisers announced that the show would not go ahead.
The concert has been rescheduled for Saturday, August 15, at the same time. Tickets already purchased remain valid and do not need to be exchanged, according to organisers.
The postponement was initially described by organisers as a safety decision. Ye later addressed the change on X, attributing it to the weather and saying the health and safety of those attending were the priority.
To the people of Almaty
— ye (@kanyewest) August 14, 2026
Due to weather conditions today’s concert will be postponed until tomorrow
Health and safety is priority
See you tomorrow
Blackout hit Almaty before the storm
The decision came after an already chaotic afternoon in Almaty.
A large-scale blackout affected the city and parts of Almaty region from around 2:38 p.m. Kazakhstan’s authorities said emergency protection systems were activated after an outage on high-voltage transmission lines operated by KEGOC.
Power supplies to Almaty and the surrounding region were fully restored by 7 p.m., according to the city administration.
The outage caused problems across the city, including disrupted traffic signals and public transport. Despite the power problems, concertgoers continued arriving at the stadium as electricity supplies were being restored.
Then, shortly before the scheduled performance, weather conditions deteriorated sharply. Local reports described a thunderstorm accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds. Videos from the stadium showed fans sheltering as the weather worsened.
Tengrinews reported that organisers cited safety concerns when announcing the postponement, while other local outlets linked the decision directly to the combination of the weather and the earlier infrastructure problems.
Fans were already inside the stadium
The announcement came after spectators had spent hours making their way to the Central Stadium.
Organisers eventually asked those already inside to leave the venue, telling them the show would take place at the same time the following day. Videos from the stadium showed large groups of people leaving after the announcement.
The last-minute change prompted a strong reaction online, with fans posting about the blackout, worsening weather and the cancellation of the night’s performance. Some users joked about the extraordinary sequence of events, while others complained about the disruption caused by the postponement.
The financial impact could also be significant for fans travelling from outside Almaty. One ticket holder told local media that he had paid 310,000 tenge for a ticket but could no longer attend after the date was moved.
A major production had been ready
The postponement came after weeks of preparation for what was expected to be one of Kazakhstan’s largest international music events.
More than 100 tonnes of equipment had been brought to Almaty for the show, including a large spherical stage structure that has featured prominently in Ye’s recent performances. About 15 trucks were reportedly used to transport the production.
The concert had attracted substantial interest before the disruption. Organisers previously said roughly half of the available tickets were sold during the first day of presales, with ticket prices ranging from 120,000 to 350,000 tenge.
Ye’s arrival in Almaty had also generated significant attention online, with footage showing him receiving a traditional Kazakh welcome and fan accounts tracking preparations for the concert.
For now, the August 14 performance has not been permanently cancelled. Organisers and Ye have announced August 15 as the new date, although the show will again depend on weather and safety conditions at the stadium.
