Macklemore's Free Palestine Tour Sells Out Dublin, Paris, and London Arenas

Fans in Dublin paid full price to hear a lineup that organizers had kept secret until the doors opened. On Monday night, Macklemore took the stage at the 3Arena to launch a three-city benefit tour. The event is the direct result of his removal from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour earlier this month. The new tour runs through October 30, with all proceeds going to organizations supporting the Palestinian movement.

The concert was sold out. Organizers chose to hide the supporting acts until the night of the show. The bill included Irish singer Hozier, the Irish hip-hop group Kneecap, Palestinian-American DJ Habibeats, and singer-songwriter Lina Makoul. Rapper M1 of the group Dead Prez also performed. Boega, the backing band that left Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Macklemore, joined the lineup for the Dublin date.

The tour continues in Paris at the Accor Arena on October 29. It concludes in London at the OVO Arena Wembley on October 30. Both dates are sold out. The concerts are structured as benefit events rather than standard commercial shows. A press release stated that the funds will support a range of organizations. These groups provide medical supplies, food, and humanitarian aid. They also focus on education, community support, and advocacy for policy change in countries described as complicit in the conflict.

Liam Cunningham, an Irish actor, spoke to the audience as a special guest. He was joined by activist and psychotherapist Nadia Greenspan and artist Samir Eskanda. Cunningham told the crowd that enjoying the music did not mean ignoring the situation in Gaza. He said, “It means celebrating the humanity and life that Palestinians have fought so hard to protect.”

Macklemore’s departure from Sheeran’s tour created the momentum for this new series. Last month, the rapper shared pro-Palestine messages during his opening sets for the Loop Tour. Messina Touring Group, the promoter for Sheeran’s U.S. dates, announced that venues threatened to cancel shows if Macklemore remained on the lineup. The group stated that hundreds of thousands of fans would be affected by a cancellation. After discussions, they confirmed Macklemore would not perform on the remaining support dates.

Sheeran addressed the split during a recent performance. He said he did not want to be an activist musician but found himself in the middle of a passionate argument about freedom of speech. He expressed deep worry that venues pre-approve content for performances. He noted that while this happens in many places, it should not happen in the free world. He explained that keeping his concerts a safe space for everyone was essential to who he is. That is why he continued his tour without Macklemore.

Macklemore announced the Free Palestine Tour on Instagram. He wrote that the last few weeks showed a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation. He said it is 2026 and being apolitical during a genocide no longer works. He added that people are asking artists to use the stage for more than entertainment. He urged artists to push back when the call for a Free Palestine is met with attempts to silence it. The Dublin show marked the first step in that push back.