Istanbul Bans Anyma Show Over Claims of "Satanic" Imagery

The artist performed at the same arena in 2024 without issue. This time, an online campaign accusing him of satanism was enough for authorities to intervene.

The Accusation

Little about ÆDEN has changed since Anyma last played Istanbul, but the response to it has. The visuals at the heart of the dispute are the same futuristic and deliberately austere work he has become known for: vast digital figures, mirrored glass, biomechanical forms, and machines rendered with near-human features. On their own terms, they explore artificial intelligence, consciousness, and the narrowing distinction between people and machines. Reframed by a coordinated series of social media posts, the footage was presented instead as occult symbolism and ritual, accompanied by public demands that the concert be called off. No evidence was provided that the imagery depicts any act of worship or conveys a hidden message, and Anyma has consistently described ÆDEN as a meeting of music, visual art, and cinematic storytelling. The allegation nonetheless gained traction quickly.

The Official Decision

The city acted on those claims. For a time the position was unclear: the show remained listed and tickets continued to sell as rumours of a cancellation grew, with no comment on record from the artist, the promoter, or the authorities. The matter was settled when the fact-checking platform Teyit approached Istanbul's press office directly and received confirmation that the event had been stopped, with alleged "satanic elements" cited as the reason. A detailed written explanation has yet to be published. The case is not without precedent in the city. Only months earlier, the Irish post-rock band God Is An Astronaut were removed from the same venue following a similar accusation, which points to an emerging pattern rather than an isolated ruling.

Refunds and Next Steps

The cancellation affects a substantial production. The September 12 date was planned as an open-air event rather than a club show, with Kevin de Vries, Stephan Bodzin, Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman, Henri Bergmann, and Gaia Ekho joining a bill centred on the audiovisual production that premiered at Coachella earlier this year. The promoter, Only You Live, has confirmed the decision, attributing it to circumstances beyond its own and the artist's control, defending the concept, and stating that it is now considering its legal options while hoping to bring ÆDEN to Istanbul at a later date. Ticket holders will be refunded automatically through Passo from September 8. Anyma has not commented publicly, though the circumstances are notable in themselves: a show halted over the very imagery that has long defined it.