Macklemore opens three-arena benefit series in Dublin with 100% of proceeds going to Palestine
The Dublin show features Hozier, Kneecap, and Ed Sheeran's former backing band, with two more sold-out dates scheduled in Europe.
By Isaac Medina ·
Macklemore opened his Free Palestine Tour on Monday night with a sold-out show at 3Arena in Dublin. The concert was the first of three sold-out dates, with the remaining shows scheduled for Paris and London this week. All proceeds from the tour will go to organizations supporting Palestine and the Palestinian movement.
The lineup for the Dublin show was kept secret until the night of the event. Performers included Hozier, Kneecap, DJ Habibeats, Lina Makoul, and M1 of Dead Prez. The bill also featured Boega, the backing band that left Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour in solidarity with Macklemore.
Special guest speakers at the Dublin concert included Irish actor Liam Cunningham, activist Nadia Greenspan, and artist Samir Eskanda. Cunningham addressed the audience on stage, saying that enjoying the night does not mean forgetting the suffering in Gaza. He added that the event is about celebrating the humanity and life that Palestinians have fought to protect.
The tour comes weeks after Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour. The split happened after Macklemore shared his free Palestine message during his opening sets. Sheeran’s promoter, Messina Touring Group, stated that venues threatened to cancel the tour if Macklemore remained on the lineup. The group noted that keeping Macklemore on the bill would impact hundreds of thousands of fans.
Messina Touring Group said that after discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore would not perform on the remaining support dates. Ed Sheeran later addressed the controversy on stage. He said he did not want to disappoint fans and that he had never wanted to be an activist musician. Sheeran described the situation as placing him in the middle of a passionate argument about freedom of speech.
Sheeran said his concerts have always been a safe space for everyone. He explained that honoring his commitment to his fans is essential to who he is. The singer said he was deeply worried about the idea that venues pre-approve content for performance. He noted that while this happens in many places, it should never happen in the free world.
In announcing the new tour on Instagram, Macklemore wrote that something has shifted over the last three years. He described a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation and the power of billionaires who try to censor that call. Macklemore said that being apolitical during a genocide does not work anymore in 2026.
Macklemore stated that people are asking artists to show up, educate themselves, and be in community. He said artists are expected to use the stage for more than entertainment. He added that artists should push back when the call for a Free Palestine is met with attempts to silence it.
The tour continues at Paris’ Accor Arena on October 29. The final date is at London’s OVO Arena Wembley on October 30. A press release for the tour described the beneficiary organizations as providing essential medical supplies, food, and humanitarian assistance. The release also noted that these groups advance education, community support, advocacy, and policy change in complicit countries around the world.
