Macklemore opens sold-out Dublin benefit after Sheeran split

Fans in Dublin filled the 3Arena on Monday night to watch Macklemore launch his new Free Palestine Tour. The concert serves as a benefit event, with all proceeds going to groups that aid Palestinian communities. Organizers kept the guest lineup secret until the night of the show.

The performance marked the first of three sold-out dates for the series. The tour moves to the Accor Arena in Paris on Oct. 29. It concludes at the OVO Arena Wembley in London on Oct. 30.

Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour last month. The split happened after he shared pro-Palestine messages during his opening sets. Sheeran's promoter, Messina Touring Group, announced the change after venues threatened to cancel shows if Macklemore remained on the bill.

A statement from the promoter noted that venues would not allow the concert to proceed with him on the lineup. They said this would have forced a cancellation of the tour and affected hundreds of thousands of fans. After discussions with stakeholders, they confirmed he would not perform on the remaining support dates.

Boega, the backing band that left Sheeran's tour in solidarity with Macklemore, performed at the Dublin show. The lineup also included Hozier and the Irish rapper Kneecap. Palestinian-American DJ and producer DJ Habibeats shared the stage as well.

Palestinian singer-songwriter Lina Makoul and rapper M1 of the group Dead Prez were part of the musical bill. Irish actor Liam Cunningham took the stage as a special guest speaker. Activist and psychotherapist Nadia Greenspan and artist Samir Eskanda also spoke to the crowd.

Cunningham told the audience that enjoying the night does not mean forgetting the suffering in Gaza. He said it means celebrating the humanity and life that Palestinians have worked to protect.

A press release for the tour stated that the proceeds support a range of work for Palestinian people. This includes providing medical supplies, food, and humanitarian assistance. It also covers education, community support, advocacy, and policy change efforts.

Sheeran addressed the controversy on stage during his recent tour. He said he did not want to disappoint fans or become an activist musician. He noted that the situation placed him in the middle of a passionate argument about freedom of speech. He described his concerts as a safe space for everyone.

The singer said he was worried about venues pre-approving performance content. He called this practice unusual for the free world. In an Instagram post announcing his tour, Macklemore wrote that 2026 has seen a collective awakening. He said being apolitical during a genocide no longer works and that people expect artists to use their stages for more than entertainment.