Macklemore Announces "Free Palestine" Tour Following Removal From Ed Sheeran's Shows

Rapper Macklemore has announced a new series of concerts titled the "Free Palestine" tour, following his removal as the opening act on Ed Sheeran's U.S. tour.

The shows are set to begin in Dublin on October 26th, before heading to Paris on October 29th and London's Wembley Arena on October 30th, with additional dates in the U.S. and other cities planned. According to Live Nation, the performances will unite Macklemore with other artists to center Palestinian voices and raise funds for humanitarian relief.

All proceeds from the performances will be donated to humanitarian and advocacy groups, including Anera, Glia, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Taawon, HEAL Palestine, Palestinian Youth Movement, Middle East Children’s Alliance, Jewish Voice for Peace, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Institute for Middle East Understanding, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, and UNRWA USA.

The tour announcement follows Macklemore's removal from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour after he made pro-Palestinian remarks and performed a dedicated song at a show in New Jersey earlier this month, where he stated:

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

The 43-year-old artist, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, was subsequently barred from performing at Massachusetts' Gillette Stadium by venue and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who accused the rapper of hate speech. Macklemore also announced he was donating his $1 million earnings from the tour to Palestinian aid organizations.

Addressing his removal on Instagram, Macklemore stated:

"So, as you all know, my schedule freed up a bit"

He added:

"If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it's that something has shifted over the last three years. There has been a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation, the power of billionaires that try to censor that call, and what we expect from artists right now."

"It's 2026. Being apolitical during a genocide doesn't work anymore. People are asking artists to show up, educate themselves and be in community. To use the stage for more than entertainment. To push back when the call for a Free Palestine is met with attempts to silence it…"

"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."

He noted that due to the speed of organizing the tour "a lot of the conversations, schedules and details are still being worked out. But this is a moment of momentum, and there is work to be done."

Macklemore's removal from Ed Sheeran’s tour triggered significant backlash. Other supporting acts on Sheeran's lineup including his backing band, Danish group Lukas Graham, and musician Finneas withdrew from the tour in protest, causing ticket prices to drop.

Sheeran initially clarified that concert promoter Messina Touring Group made the decision to drop Macklemore. He released a statement explaining his choice not to discuss politics publicly:

"Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care. Nor does it mean I don’t support causes in my own, personal way,"

"There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics – my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum. I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes. However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace. I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed. If we only focus on shouting the loudest, nothing will ever change. There are different approaches to being an advocate for change."

Following continued criticism, Sheeran addressed the audience directly at a September 19th performance, apologizing for how the situation was managed:

"I don't want to disappoint fans, and I've never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet."

"What happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable, and disproportionate."

Robert Kraft responded by stating that he and Sheeran would each donate $2 million to regional humanitarian aid, though specific organizations were not named. Defending his history of philanthropy, Kraft said:

"I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting."

"In addition, I'd like the people who are speaking in support of the Palestinian people to know that for decades, I have supported efforts that create opportunity for Palestinians and have brought young Palestinians and Israelis together to build businesses, create jobs, and forge relationships."

Tickets for Macklemore’s "Free Palestine" tour are scheduled to go on sale on September 30th.