British rock band Muse has hit pause on their much-anticipated Istanbul show, originally set for June 11, 2025, moving it to 2026 after a storm of controversy. The decision, announced today, April 2, 2025, comes after fans and artists in Turkey kicked up a fuss over the event’s organizer, DBL Entertainment, and its boss’s harsh words about anti-government protests. It’s a big shift for the band—and a win for the voices calling for change.
The Controversy Sparks
The trouble started when Muse dropped the news of their Istanbul gig at Festival Park Yenikapi on March 31, posting on X that tickets would go live April 3. Fans were buzzing—until they weren’t. Turkey’s been a hotbed of unrest since March 19, when Istanbul’s popular opposition mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, got arrested on corruption charges he says are fake. Protests erupted, the biggest since 2013, and the main opposition party, CHP, rallied folks to boycott businesses cozy with the government—including DBL.
Things got messy fast. DBL’s owner, Abdülkadir Özkan, sparked outrage by calling protesters “traitors” on X after a scuffle at a boycotted coffee shop. Fans flipped out, flooding Muse’s posts with pleas to ditch the gig. “We love you, but this organizer backs fascism,” wrote Turkish actress Berna Laçin. Singer Gaye Su Akyol chimed in too: “Solidarity matters—I won’t go, and neither should anyone.” The pressure worked—by April 1, Özkan said DBL was pulling out of all projects, and Muse stayed quiet until today’s bombshell.
Muse’s Response and Shift to 2026
“We’ve heard our fans and respect their worries,” Muse posted on X this evening. “Our Istanbul show is now set for 2026, and we’ll make sure DBL Entertainment isn’t part of it. Your support means everything.” It’s a clear nod to the boycott crew, who’ve been pushing hard against anything tied to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s allies. Norwegian singer Ane Brun already bailed on her October Istanbul show over the same mess, and now Muse is following suit—just with a delay, not a full cancel.
Mixed Reactions from Turkish Fans
For Turkish fans, it’s bittersweet. Muse hasn’t played here since scrapping a 2016 date after a failed coup, so the hype was real. But the mood’s shifted—posts on X today are cheering the move, with one saying, “Society won over a few AKP elites.” Another fan added, “Boycotts work—see you in 2026 with a clean slate!” Still, some wonder who’ll step up to organize it next time, hoping for a promoter free of political baggage.
Protests Continue and the Political Climate
Turkey’s protests aren’t dying down—nearly 2,000 people, including students, have been nabbed since this kicked off. İmamoğlu’s detention is seen as Erdoğan flexing to squash his biggest rival ahead of 2028 elections. Muse’s call to push back shows they’re not blind to the heat on the ground. It’s not their first brush with Turkey’s chaos, but this time, they’re betting on a calmer 2026 to rock Istanbul right. For now, fans are holding their breath—and their applause—for a show worth the wait.