Macklemore Announces ‘Free Palestine Tour’ With London, Dublin and Paris Arena Dates

Macklemore has announced a new series of European arena shows under the banner Free Palestine Tour, with dates confirmed for Dublin, Paris and London this October and further cities expected to follow.

Macklemore has announced the first European dates for his Free Palestine Tour, including OVO Arena Wembley in London on 30 October 2026.

The US rapper revealed the plans on Thursday, 24 September, announcing that the concerts will bring together “Macklemore and Friends” for performances centred on support for Palestinians, with proceeds from the shows going to organisations working across humanitarian aid, healthcare, education, advocacy and community support.

The first three dates are scheduled for 3Arena in Dublin on 26 October, Accor Arena in Paris on 29 October and OVO Arena Wembley in London on 30 October. Further dates, including shows in the United States, are expected to be announced.

Macklemore’s Free Palestine Tour comes after Ed Sheeran tour controversy

The announcement arrives less than two weeks after Macklemore was removed from the remaining US dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour following his pro-Palestinian comments during a 4 September performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Macklemore used part of his support set to speak about Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank before performing his protest track “Hind’s Hall”. The comments subsequently became the focus of considerable public debate.

Messina Touring Group, promoter of the US leg of Sheeran’s tour, later said venues had informed the promoter that they would not allow concerts to proceed with Macklemore on the line-up, resulting in his removal from the remaining dates. Macklemore has argued that the episode raises broader questions around artistic platforms, money and who ultimately controls what artists are able to say on major stages.

Now, those suddenly vacant dates have become part of Macklemore’s own announcement.

“As you all know, my schedule freed up a bit,” he wrote while unveiling the tour.

‘Macklemore and Friends’ will take over OVO Arena Wembley

Rather than positioning the shows solely as conventional Macklemore concerts, the project is being billed as Macklemore and Friends, with additional participating artists yet to be announced.

According to Macklemore, he has spent the past week contacting artists who have publicly supported Palestinians and who are prepared to use their platforms to address the subject.

He described the current moment as one in which expectations around artists and political engagement are changing, writing: “Being apolitical during a genocide doesn’t work anymore.” The description of events in Gaza as genocide is Macklemore’s own characterisation within his statement; the terminology remains politically and legally contested in the wider Israel-Gaza debate.

He added that artists should be willing to use their platforms beyond entertainment and argued that his removal from the Sheeran tour represented an issue “bigger than one artist or one stage”.

The London Free Palestine Tour date takes place at OVO Arena Wembley on 30 October, making it the final currently announced European show.

All proceeds will support Palestinian organisations

Proceeds from the concerts are set to benefit 12 organisations involved in humanitarian, medical, educational, campaigning and community work connected with Palestinians: Anera, Glia, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Taawon, HEAL Palestine, Palestinian Youth Movement, Middle East Children’s Alliance, Jewish Voice for Peace, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Institute for Middle East Understanding, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and UNRWA USA.

The tour follows Macklemore’s separate pledge of $1 million from his net earnings from the Ed Sheeran tour to six organisations supporting Palestinians. That pledge was subsequently matched by children’s entertainer Ms Rachel with a $1 million commitment of her own.

Reuters reported last week that Palestinian artists Anne Redwan and Qusai al-Helo had also painted a mural of Macklemore among damaged buildings in Gaza City, featuring the message “Thank you for using your voice for Palestine”.

When are Macklemore Free Palestine Tour tickets on sale?

The currently announced Macklemore Free Palestine Tour 2026 dates are 26 October at 3Arena, Dublin; 29 October at Accor Arena, Paris; and 30 October at OVO Arena Wembley, London.

Artist presale access is scheduled to begin at 10am local time on Monday, 28 September, with general ticket sales opening at 10am local time on Wednesday, 30 September.

Additional performers have not yet been confirmed, while Macklemore says further cities and US dates will follow.

For an announcement assembled at speed, its intentions are already clear: this is being presented as more than simply a replacement tour. Macklemore is using the circumstances surrounding his departure from Sheeran’s shows to build an explicitly political concert series in which live music, fundraising and advocacy occupy the same stage.

Who joins him next could become just as significant to the developing story.

You can sign up for early access to the artist presale on Mon, 9/28 (10am local) - Wed, 9/30 (9am local) at Macklemore.com