Macklemore Launches Three-City Benefit Tour After Sheeran Split

Macklemore began his new concert series on Monday night in Dublin, weeks after his removal from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour. The event was a sold-out benefit performance held at the 3Arena. Organizers kept the lineup secret until the night of the show. The decision to withhold details came as the tour launched without prior public promotion of its musical guests.

The bill for the Dublin date included Hozier and the Irish rap group Kneecap. Palestinian-American DJ Habibeats and singer-songwriter Lina Makoul also performed. M1 of the group Dead Prez appeared on stage. Boega, the backing band that left Sheeran’s tour in solidarity, joined the lineup. This group of artists created a mixed-generational crowd that filled the venue capacity.

The Dublin concert was the first of three paid events. The tour continues on Oct. 29 at the Accor Arena in Paris. A final show is scheduled for Oct. 30 at the OVO Arena Wembley in London. All proceeds from these three dates will go to organizations supporting Palestine. The funds aim to cover medical supplies, food, and humanitarian assistance. They will also support education and advocacy efforts.

Liam Cunningham, known for his acting career, spoke to the audience as a special guest. Nadia Greenspan, an activist and psychotherapist, and Samir Eskanda, an artist and organizer, also addressed the crowd. Cunningham noted that the evening was about celebrating life. He said, “Enjoying tonight does not mean forgetting about the suffering in Gaza. It means celebrating the humanity and life that Palestinians have fought so hard to protect.”

A press release stated that the selected organizations provide essential aid to families, healthcare workers, and students. The group highlighted the need for policy change in countries deemed complicit in the conflict. The release emphasized that the concerts center on the daily lives of people in Gaza. It described the ongoing situation as a genocide that impacts the future of the region's communities.

Macklemore was removed from Sheeran’s tour last month. He had shared pro-Palestine messages during his opening sets. Messina Touring Group, Sheeran’s promoter, announced the cut. The group said venues threatened to cancel shows if Macklemore remained on the bill. The promoter stated that this decision was made to protect the remaining tour dates and the fans attending them.

Sheeran addressed the controversy during a recent performance. He said he did not want to disappoint his audience. He described the situation as a complex argument about freedom of speech. The singer expressed worry that venues were pre-approving performance content. He noted that while this happens globally, it should not happen in the free world.

In an Instagram post announcing the new tour, Macklemore said the recent weeks showed a shift in public sentiment. He wrote that there has been a collective awakening regarding Palestinian liberation. He argued that being apolitical during a genocide no longer works in 2026. He called on artists to use their stages for education and community building.

The new tour represents a direct financial path for the benefit organizations. By selling out three major venues in Europe, the project generates immediate capital. The proceeds bypass traditional industry intermediaries. The money goes directly to the groups listed in the press release. This structure allows the tour to function as both a performance and a funding mechanism.