Macklemore sells out European Free Palestine Tour after removal from Ed Sheeran shows

Macklemore announced on 30 September 2026 that all dates for his European Free Palestine Tour sold out immediately after tickets went on sale. The three-city run begins on 26 October at the 3Arena in Dublin, moves to the Accor Arena in Paris on 29 October, and finishes at the OVO Arena Wembley in London on 30 October. Macklemore, a four-time Grammy winner from Seattle, organized the concerts less than a week earlier under the banner of Macklemore and Friends. The rapper confirmed that official artist lineups for the shows will appear soon, while additional United States dates are planned for future announcement. Proceeds from the three arena performances are allocated to a dozen humanitarian groups supporting Palestinians, including Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, and the Palestine Children's Relief Fund.

Venue removals and stadium controversy

The standalone tour materialized after Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran's U.S. Loop Tour earlier in September. During an opening performance on 4 September at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the rapper addressed the audience with political statements in support of Palestinians.

A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine.

While part of the MetLife Stadium crowd cheered the remarks, other attendees walked out during the set. Macklemore stated that his removal followed pressure from Robert Kraft, the owner of Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots, who organized several venue operators to deliver an ultimatum to Sheeran. Kraft stated that his decision to bar the rapper from Gillette Stadium stemmed from onstage material at MetLife Stadium and what Kraft described as a history of rhetoric offensive to the Jewish community.

Artist walkouts and tour fallout

Sheeran described the dropped booking as a decision by promoters and venue operators, stating that multiple venues threatened to cancel hosting the tour if Macklemore stayed on the roster. The removal prompted every other scheduled opening act, including Finneas, Aaron Rowe, and Lukas Graham, to withdraw from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore. Sheeran's backing band, Beoga, also left the tour roster following the decision. When the Loop Tour reached Philadelphia, Sheeran performed without supporting acts while demonstrators gathered outside the venue to protest the removal. Onstage in Philadelphia, Sheeran apologized for the situation and described conditions in Gaza as catastrophic and unjustifiable.

When those in power try to silence our calls for liberation, art will always be a form of resistance.

European shows and fundraising

Following his exit from the stadium trek, Macklemore organized the European run to gather artists willing to voice support for Palestinian causes. The musician stated that the concerts demonstrate how artists can stand together and direct live performances toward fundraising efforts. The organizer noted that the response in Dublin, Paris, and London reflects widespread public engagement with the initiative. Macklemore plans to announce additional performers for the European dates alongside subsequent dates in the United States once arrangements conclude.