Ed Sheeran cancels Gillette Stadium concerts after nor'easter and tour lineup fallout

Weather forces Gillette Stadium cancellations

Tour promoter Messina Touring announced on September 25, 2026, that Ed Sheeran's planned concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, were canceled. The two shows were scheduled for Friday and Saturday night at the 64,628-seat venue near Boston as part of Sheeran's Loop tour. Meteorologists forecast an incoming nor'easter storm set to bring heavy rain, coastal flooding, and wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour in Foxborough, with gusts reaching 105 kilometers per hour on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket.

Messina Touring confirmed that ticket holders who purchased through Ticketmaster will receive automatic refunds, while other purchasers can seek refunds at points of purchase. The promoter stated that local officials were consulted before making the final decision.

“Due to the severe weather warnings in place in Boston and across New England throughout the weekend and following consultation with local officials, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Ed Sheeran concerts at Gillette Stadium.”

Controversy begins at MetLife Stadium

The weather cancellation concluded a three-week period of disruption across the United States leg of the tour. The controversy began during September 4–5 performances at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where American rapper and opening act Macklemore made political statements from the stage. Macklemore performed his 2024 protest song "Hind's Hall" alongside video footage depicting destruction in the Gaza Strip.

During the performance, the rapper addressed the audience directly about the Middle East conflict.

“'Free Palestine!' I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them.”

Venue pressure and artist departures

The remarks generated pushback from pro-Israel organizations, who accused Macklemore of delivering political propaganda during the tour. Stadium owners across several scheduled stops voiced objections, including representatives from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and Gillette Stadium. Billionaire Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots, refused to host the event if Macklemore remained on the bill, accusing the rapper of a history of antisemitic rhetoric.

On September 14, 2026, Messina Touring removed Macklemore from the tour lineup. In response, four additional support acts and Sheeran's touring band withdrew from the tour in solidarity with the rapper. Sheeran later released a statement to clarify his role in the decision.

“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine. Macklemore's contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me.”

Apology, refunds, and charity tour

Sheeran addressed audiences at subsequent concerts, apologizing for the management of the situation and explaining that he never intended to become an activist musician. He characterized the Hamas attacks in Israel as horrible and described the military campaign in Gaza as unjustifiable and disproportionate. Sheeran added that he would not abandon touring crew members and musicians who rely on the concerts for employment.

The lineup changes prompted more than 100 customer complaints to the Massachusetts attorney general. On September 24, 2026, the attorney general announced that Ticketmaster agreed to offer advance refunds to Gillette Stadium ticket holders prior to the weather cancellation. Macklemore subsequently announced plans to launch an independent "Free Palestine" tour, directing proceeds to humanitarian charities supporting Palestinians.