Dublin Arena Fills as Macklemore Launches Benefit Series After Sheeran Split

Macklemore opened the Free Palestine Tour in Dublin on Monday night, playing to a sold-out crowd at the 3Arena. The performance marks the first of three sold-out shows in a new benefit series following his abrupt removal from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour. Organizers kept the lineup secret until the night of the show, revealing a bill that included Hozier, Kneecap, and DJ Habibeats.

The concert also featured Palestinian singer-songwriter Lina Makoul and rapper M1 of Dead Prez. Boega, the backing band that left Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Macklemore, joined the lineup as well. Special guest speakers for the Dublin event included Irish actor Liam Cunningham, activist Nadia Greenspan, and artist Samir Eskanda.

Cunningham addressed the audience directly during the show. He stated that enjoying the concert did not mean ignoring the suffering in Gaza. Instead, he framed the night as a celebration of the humanity and life that Palestinians have fought to protect. All proceeds from the three-city series will go to organizations supporting Palestine and the Palestinian movement.

A press release described the beneficiary organizations as providing medical supplies, food, and humanitarian assistance. It also noted their work in education, community support, advocacy, and policy change. The release emphasized that the concert series centers on the families, children, and healthcare workers impacted by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The tour follows a controversy that erupted last month when Macklemore was dropped from Sheeran’s support dates. The split occurred after Macklemore shared pro-Palestine messages during his opening sets. Messina Touring Group, Sheeran’s promoter, cited venue concerns as the reason for the change. The promoter said venues threatened to pull out if Macklemore remained on the bill, which would have cancelled the tour and affected hundreds of thousands of fans.

Sheeran later addressed the situation during his own performances. He described the conflict as a passionate argument about freedom of speech and a complex political issue. The singer expressed concern over venues pre-approving content for performances. He noted that while this happens in many places, it should not occur in the free world. Sheeran said he was continuing his tour to honor his commitment to fans.

Macklemore announced the new tour on Instagram, reflecting on the past three years. He wrote that a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation has occurred. He noted that being apolitical during a genocide no longer works in 2026. He said people are asking artists to use their stages for more than just entertainment. The next stop in the series is Paris’ Accor Arena on Oct. 29, followed by London’s OVO Arena Wembley on Oct. 30.