Macklemore Announces a ‘Free Palestine Tour’ for Dublin, Paris and London After Losing His Ed Sheeran Slot

Macklemore has booked himself a tour out of the one that dropped him. On Thursday (Sept. 24) he announced the Free Palestine Tour: three benefit shows in Dublin, Paris and London in late October, with, in his words, all proceeds benefiting “organizations supporting the Palestinian people and movement.” The billing for now is simply “Macklemore and Friends.”

The announcement came ten days after the U.S. promoter of Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour removed him from the remaining stadium dates, saying venues would not host shows with him on the bill. The trouble started when he said “Free Palestine” from the stage at both of his MetLife Stadium shows. He has since given the $1 million he earned from the Sheeran contract to Palestinian aid. This time he named no names, but he left no doubt what he was answering.

What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage. When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention.

Macklemore, in his tour announcement, Pitchfork

The statement is a manifesto as much as a booking notice. “It’s 2026,” he wrote. “Being apolitical during a genocide doesn’t work anymore.” (That is his characterization, and the term is disputed.) He also said he had spent a week calling artists “who have shown up and used their stages to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, regardless of the consequences,” and that “a lot of the conversations, schedules and details are still being worked out.”

Pitchfork lists the 12 organizations that will share the proceeds, including Anera, HEAL Palestine, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Jewish Voice for Peace and UNRWA USA. Presale registration runs through macklemore.com, with the presale opening Monday (Sept. 28) at 10 a.m. local time and general sale on Wednesday (Sept. 30), according to the rapper's post.

Where the Sheeran fight stands

Sheeran has said the venues and promoter made the final call, and that he has chosen to keep his platform apolitical as a “place of safety and sanctuary.” After backlash, he spoke at his first show since the change: “This is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore,” he told the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sept. 19, according to Billboard. Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium, has confirmed he barred Macklemore from the stadium, citing what he called offensive rhetoric and imagery. Macklemore says Kraft helped pressure other venues, which Kraft's statement didn't address.

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Sheeran played that Philadelphia show with no opening acts: they all withdrew in solidarity with Macklemore, including Finneas.

What's next: the dates are Dublin on Oct. 26, Paris on Oct. 29 at the Accor Arena and London on Oct. 30 at the OVO Arena Wembley. Artist announcements and U.S. dates are promised soon. For how the whole dispute unfolded, see our timeline.

Added to the High Grailed archive on October 12, 2026.