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Istanbul was flooded with visitors and concertgoers on Saturday as Kanye West's highly anticipated performance drew tens of thousands of fans from across Türkiye and abroad, putting additional pressure on the city's transportation network and public spaces.
Long queues formed outside the stadium hours before gates opened, with fans arriving early to secure their places ahead of the 9 p.m. local time (GMT+3) show. The area surrounding the venue turned into a gathering point as thousands of music lovers waited for the event to begin.
Organizers expect around 120,000 people to attend the concert at Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
The influx added to an already busy weekend in Istanbul, where large numbers of visitors have also arrived for Andrea Bocelli's upcoming concert, Max Korzh's scheduled performance and Eid al-Adha celebrations.
Crowds heading toward the stadium packed metro stations across the city, particularly along the M9 Atakoy-Olimpiyat Metro Line, the main route serving the venue. Platforms and corridors filled quickly as passengers streamed toward the concert site.
Metro personnel and security teams introduced crowd-control measures to keep passenger movement flowing, while long lines also built up at transfer points and stadium entrances. Authorities warned that similar congestion could continue after the concert ends.
The event features a full entertainment program extending into the early hours of the morning. Alongside West's performance, attendees are set to watch DJ sets, laser and light shows, and appearances by Turkish artists including Yener Cevik, Mavi, Sena Sener, Pera and Motive.
Organizers expect visitors from all age groups, while children under 16 are permitted to enter with parental supervision.
West's appearance is part of a packed concert calendar that has turned Istanbul into one of the region's busiest entertainment destinations in recent weeks. Andrea Bocelli is set to perform at Tupras Stadium as part of his "Romanza 30th Anniversary World Tour," while Belarusian artist Max Korzh is expected to attract thousands of fans to the city next week.
A string of other international performers, including Travis Scott, Alessandro Safina, Alice Cooper, Megadeth, Scorpions, Moby, Three Days Grace and Ragheb Alama, are also scheduled to take the stage in Istanbul throughout June.
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