Macklemore Announces "Free Palestine Tour" After Ed Sheeran Fallout

Less than two weeks after being removed from Ed Sheeran's tour due to controversy over his opening act performance, Macklemore has announced his own "Free Palestine Tour." The rapper revealed on Thursday that all proceeds from the tour will be donated to 12 organizations supporting Palestinians, including UNRWA. "As you all know, my schedule has cleared up a bit," Macklemore wrote in his announcement, referencing his removal from Sheeran's tour. The new tour is set to begin next month with three initial shows in Dublin, London, and Paris, with more dates expected.

Macklemore stated that he has invited other artists who have publicly supported Palestine to join him on the tour, which will be marketed as "Macklemore & Friends," though the guest list has not yet been revealed. Dates in the United States are also reportedly in the works. "If the last few weeks have shown us anything, it's that something has changed in the last three years," Macklemore wrote. "It's 2026. Being apolitical during a genocide is no longer an option."

The rapper's removal from Sheeran's tour triggered a significant backlash against Sheeran. Several of his opening acts withdrew, protests were organized outside concerts, and Sheeran reportedly lost hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers, with ticket prices dropping in some cities. Macklemore, conversely, gained millions of new followers. He had previously pledged to donate the estimated $1 million he would have earned from Sheeran's tour to Palestinian aid organizations. Now, having been removed from a tour for advocating for Palestine, he is launching his own tour with that explicit message.