Ye Live in Chicago

In June 2026, two concerts in Chicago and one in San Antonio were announced as part of a trio of American concerts within the Ye Live Concert Tour.^[2][3] The tour was launched in support of West's twelfth studio album, Bully (2026), and started on April 1, 2026, with a concert at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.^[3][4] A subsequent show at the venue grossed $18 million, becoming one of the world's highest-grossing concerts,^[4] and the tour continued to have financial success across its run.^[5] However, several planned concerts were cancelled due to pushback regarding West's previous antisemitic statements and sympathizing with Nazism.^[6][7] Following West's performances in Los Angeles and prior to Chicago, he performed in Tampa, San Antonio, and New Orleans domestically, and in multiple countries including Kazakhstan, Georgia, Albania, Spain, Turkey, the Netherlands,^[8] and Portugal.^[9]

Held at Soldier Field in Chicago, the Ye Live in Chicago concerts marked West's first performance in the city in 5 years, following a 2021 listening party for his album Donda that he hosted at the same stadium.^[10] Several publications dubbed the return as a "homecoming".^{[11][12][13][14]} Merchandise stands opened prior to the concert on September 3, 2026, with CBS News reporting that West's fans had already formed long lines to buy the products.^[10] Due to West's previous antisemitic statements, members of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) were present that same day and trained venue workers to identify antisemitic symbols and statements in the event that either West or his fans made them,^[15] and began compiling a "best practices" guide.^[16] According to an ADL spokeswoman, they had the workers implement a zero-tolerance policy for any antisemitic behavior.^[16]

The stage, designed by West with frequent visual collaborator Aus Taylor,^[17][18] projected visuals of the Earth and Moon spinning around throughout the performance.^[10] West had previously likened it to "standing on top of the world after everything we've been through".^[19] Additional elements of the production included fluorescent, laser-beam-resembling lights,^[20] originally created by John McGuire.^[18] For example, West's performance of "All of the Lights" (2010) contained a "gleaming light spectacle" similar to EDM festivals, in which "fluorescent laser beams" shot across the stadium.^[20]

The music and setlist were handled by West's music director André Troutman, who later told Complex that many of the first show's guest appearances and songs were chosen hours before the concert. During the shows, Troutman performed vocals through a talk box, managed the transitions between each song, and played live additions to the tracks alongside a group of West's touring musicians, including keyboardist Liston Gregory III, keybass player Carrice Whitley, sound effects engineer Nkenge 1x, and co-director Vancil "Coop" Cooper. Troutman compared his approach as director to creating the soundtrack to a movie, feeling that it was his "job" to match the visuals designed by West and Taylor.^[3]

The first show featured appearances from rappers Twista,^[21] Big Sean, 2 Chainz, and Future.^[11] The second show featured appearances from Kid Cudi, Lupe Fiasco, Common, Twista, Consequence, GLC, Really Doe, CyHi, Young Thug, Travis Scott, Don Toliver, Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, and Chief Keef.^[22] On the first night, West performed with Big Sean on "Clique" (2012), "I Don't Fuck with You" (2014), and "Mercy" (2012), with the latter featuring 2 Chainz, before performing "Birthday Song" (2012). Subsequently, West performed with Future on "Keep It Burning" (2022) and "Fuck Up Some Commas" (2015) and Twista on "Overnight Celebrity" (2004) and "Slow Jamz" (2003).^[12]

On the second night, while featuring the same collaborations with Big Sean and Twista, West performed with Chief Keef on "Love Sosa" and "Don't Like" (2012), 2 Chainz on "I'm Different" (2012), Rick Ross on "Devil in a New Dress" and "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)" (2010), Don Toliver on "OK" and "E85" (2026), Travis Scott on "Fein" (2023) and "Father" (2026), Young Thug on "Highlights" (2016) and "Lifestyle" (2014), CyHi on "So Appalled" (2010), Really Doe on "We Major" (2005), GLC and Consequence on "Spaceship" (2004), Common on "The Light" (2000), and Lupe Fiasco on "Touch the Sky" (2005) and "Superstar" (2007).^[12] In the middle of the second concert, West played a recorded message from Lil Durk, who expressed gratitude for his support. At the time, Durk was on trial for murder-for-hire charges.^[20][23]

The appearances of Cudi and Sean followed periods of strained relationships between the rappers and West. Several publications described their appearances as symbolizing a reconciliation.^{[13][24][25][26]} Near the end of the second concert, West performed with Cudi on "Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1" (2016), "Ghost Town" (2018), and "Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)" (2009).^[12] West was reportedly seen crying on stage during their closing moments,^[27] before leaving, as a clip of Donda West's voice "boomed throughout Soldier Field."^[20] Following the concert, Cudi called West his "brother" on X and defended him from online users criticizing their reunion, citing West's mental improvement since his manic episode in 2025.^[26][28]

Setlists adapted from Pitchfork:^[12]

Night 1:

Night 2: