Macklemore announces new tour to benefit humanitarian aid organisations in wake of Ed Sheeran controversy

Published on 25/09/2026 - 13:22 GMT+2 US rapper Macklemore is heading to Europe with what he calls the ‘Free Palestine Tour', after being thrown off Ed Sheeran’s US tour for making pro-Palestinian comments on stage. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT "If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it’s that something has shifted over the last three years,” Macklemore said sharing the news. “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." The Grammy-winning artist, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, went on to describe how in the year 2026 "being apolitical during a genocide doesn’t work anymore," as audiences expect artists to "show up, educate themselves and be in community," and 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." Macklemore added he will be joined on stage by “artists who have shown up and used their stages to stand in solidarity”. His 'Free Palestine Tour' will take place next month with dates in Dublin (26 October at the 3Arena), Paris (29 October at the Accor Arena), and London (30 October at the OVO Arena Wembley). Any US dates haven't been confirmed yet. According to Live Nation, the “Free Palestine” tour will “bring Macklemore together with artists and friends for a series of performances that center Palestine and Palestinians, and help provide humanitarian aid and support to the movement.” All proceeds will go towards organisations supporting the Palestinian people and movement. These include: 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. After Macklemore was pulled from Ed Sheeran’s tour, he announced that he was donating the entire $1 million salary he earned to organisations supporting Palestine. The rapper said he was dropped from Sheeran’s tour after Gillette Stadium billionaire owner Robert Kraft refused to let Macklemore play at the venue due to his vocal support for Palestine. Kraft, who also owns the New England Patriots, said he took the decision because his venue would not "provide a platform for hate speech." The business tycoon also said that both he and Sheeran would be donating $2 million each to “aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis” - although no specific organisations were listed. After Macklemore was taken off the bill, Sheeran posted a statement which sparked triggered an enormous backlash against him as he explained why, unlike Macklemore, he does not speak out on political issues. “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,” the singer wrote. “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.”