Macklemore Ignites Three-City Benefit Tour in Dublin After Sheeran Split

Macklemore launched his Free Palestine Tour on Monday night at Dublin’s 3Arena, marking the first of three sold-out dates in Europe. The concerts are organized as benefit events, with organizers withholding the full lineup until the day of each show to maintain surprise and focus on the cause.

The Dublin performance featured a lineup that included Hozier, the Irish rap group Kneecap, Palestinian-American DJ Habibeats, singer Lina Makoul, and rapper M1 of Dead Prez. Boega, the backing band that previously left Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour in solidarity with Macklemore, also performed. Additional guests included Irish actor Liam Cunningham, psychotherapist Nadia Greenspan, and activist Samir Eskanda.

The tour continues at Paris’ Accor Arena on October 29 and concludes at London’s OVO Arena Wembley on October 30. All proceeds from these three events will go to organizations supporting the Palestinian movement. A press release stated that these groups provide essential medical supplies, food, humanitarian assistance, education, community support, advocacy, and policy change efforts in complicit nations.

The tour begins weeks after Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour. Last month, Sheeran’s promoter, Messina Touring Group, announced that venues for the remaining U.S. dates threatened to cancel shows if Macklemore remained on the bill due to his pro-Palestine speeches during opening sets. The promoter stated that this decision would impact hundreds of thousands of fans.

Liam Cunningham addressed the audience in Dublin, stating that enjoying the concert does not mean forgetting the suffering in Gaza. He said it means celebrating the humanity and life that Palestinians have fought to protect. The event serves as a direct response to the recent industry clashes over political expression on stage.

Ed Sheeran addressed the controversy in a separate appearance, noting that he did not want to disappoint fans or be seen as an activist musician. He expressed concern that venues pre-approving content for performance, a practice he said should not happen in the free world. Sheeran continued his tour without Macklemore, honoring his commitment to his fanbase.

Macklemore announced the new tour on Instagram, writing that something has shifted in the last three years regarding Palestinian liberation and the power of billionaires attempting to censor that call. He noted that being apolitical during a genocide no longer works in 2026. He urged artists to use their stages for more than entertainment and to push back when calls for a free Palestine are met with attempts to silence them.