Macklemore Opens Dublin Benefit After Sheeran Tour Split

Macklemore began his Free Palestine Tour on Monday night at Dublin’s 3Arena. The event was a sold-out benefit concert held weeks after his removal from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour. The split occurred after Macklemore shared his support for Palestinian liberation during his opening sets on the previous tour.

Organizers kept the lineup secret until the day of the show. The bill included Irish singer Hozier, the Irish-language rap group Kneecap, and Palestinian-American DJ Habibeats. Palestinian singer-songwriter Lina Makoul and rapper M1 of Dead Prez also performed. Boega, the backing band that left Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Macklemore, played as well.

The Dublin stop is the first of three scheduled dates. The tour continues at Paris’ Accor Arena on October 29. It concludes at London’s OVO Arena Wembley on October 30. All proceeds from the three concerts will go to organizations supporting the Palestinian movement.

A press release stated that these groups provide essential medical supplies, food, and humanitarian assistance. They also advance education, community support, and advocacy for policy change. The release described the beneficiaries as families, children, healthcare workers, and communities in Gaza affected by the ongoing conflict.

Irish actor Liam Cunningham, psychotherapist Nadia Greenspan, and artist Samir Eskanda served as special guest speakers. Cunningham told the audience that enjoying the music does not mean forgetting the suffering in Gaza. He said it means celebrating the humanity and life that Palestinians have fought to protect.

Macklemore’s departure from Sheeran’s tour was announced by Messina Touring Group, Sheeran’s promoter. The group said U.S. venues threatened to cancel shows if Macklemore remained on the lineup. Messina Touring Group stated that this would have impacted hundreds of thousands of fans and resulted in the tour’s cancellation.

Sheeran addressed the decision onstage during his own concert. He said he did not want to disappoint fans or be an activist musician, but the situation forced him into a debate about freedom of speech. Sheeran noted that he was worried about venues pre-approving performance content. He argued that this practice happens globally but should not occur in the free world.

In an Instagram post announcing the new tour, Macklemore wrote that the past three years have shown a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation. He said being apolitical during a genocide no longer works in 2026. Macklemore added that people are now expecting artists to use their stages for more than just entertainment and to push back against attempts to silence calls for a free Palestine.