Macklemore Announces ‘Free Palestine’ Tour With All Ticket Sales Being Donated to Charity

Grammy-winning rapper Macklemore has announced a new headlining concert series titled the "Free Palestine Tour," following his high-profile removal from Ed Sheeran's tour. According to the tour announcement, all proceeds from ticket sales will be donated directly to humanitarian and advocacy organizations supporting Palestinians.

Tour Itinerary and Ticketing Details

The newly formed tour launches in Europe this autumn. The initial schedule includes three confirmed dates:

• Dublin on October 26, 2026
• Paris on October 29, 2026
• London's OVO Arena Wembley on October 30, 2026

Additional performances, including dates in the United States, are slated for announcement in the coming weeks. Presale access for the upcoming concerts opens on Monday at 10 a.m. Local time, followed by the public on-sale beginning on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Local time.

City	Venue / Context	Date
Dublin	Initial European Launch	October 26, 2026
Paris	European Leg	October 29, 2026
London	OVO Arena Wembley	October 30, 2026

Beneficiary Organizations

All proceeds generated by the tour will benefit a wide array of groups providing aid and advocacy. As detailed across the announcements, these organizations include Medical Aid for Palestinians, the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, UNRWA USA, Anera, Glia, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Taawon, HEAL Palestine, the Palestinian Youth Movement, the Middle East Children’s Alliance, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Institute for Middle East Understanding.

Background and Removal From the Loop Tour

The headlining tour follows Macklemore's removal from the remaining eight dates of Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour. The separation occurred after the rapper made pro-Palestinian remarks during a September 4, 2026, concert at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Macklemore later shared details regarding a phone call involving Sheeran and Robert Kraft, whose company owns Gillette Stadium where the artists were scheduled to perform on September 25 and 26, 2026.

"Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium. Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues."

Macklemore, via Yahoo Entertainment

In response, Kraft explained his decision in a statement to PEOPLE, stating he did not want to provide a platform for hate speech and citing objections to Macklemore's actions, material shared from the stage, and concerns regarding historical antisemitic rhetoric and imagery. Sheeran subsequently clarified that the contract was with the promoter rather than himself, expressing a desire to protect his touring crew and support acts who relied on the work.

Following his removal, Macklemore announced he would donate the $1 million earned from Sheeran's tour to Palestinian aid organizations. Robert Kraft later stated that Sheeran had asked him to match a $2 million donation to aid the humanitarian crisis in the region.

Other supporting acts on Sheeran's tour—including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and Sheeran's live backing band, Beoga—also chose to exit the run of shows following Macklemore's removal.

Artist Statements and the Larger Debate

Announcing the new tour on Instagram, Macklemore contextualized the shift in the music industry.

"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."

Macklemore, via Instagram and Asian Image

He continued:

"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."

Macklemore, via Asian Image

Ed Sheeran addressed the controversy during a solo performance at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, describing the difficulties of navigating the public discussion surrounding freedom of speech and the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Sheeran expressed deep concern over venues pre-approving performer content, stating that while it occurs globally, it should not happen in the free world.

Next Steps

Macklemore indicated that line-up announcements for "Macklemore and Friends" will be released ahead of ticket sales. Further tour dates covering the United States are expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks.