Today, Macklemore posted his first three arena dates on his website, naming Dublin, Paris and London, with all money raised going to organizations that support Palestinian people. He called the run the Free Palestine Tour.
A booking has now been confirmed following Macklemore being removed from Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour, a decision that brought headlines across the music industry.
How the Sheeran Situation Went Down
Macklemore was booked as an opener on Ed Sheeran’s current stadium tour. Then Sheeran dropped him at the behest of stadium owner Robert Kraft. That led to every other opener on that tour, as well as Sheeran’s own backing band, quitting the tour in solidarity.
Onstage, Sheeran said that he was “not complicit,” and then broke down crying over it. Macklemore, by contrast, has kept putting real effort into making things happen.
Following the controversy surrounding the Sheeran case, Macklemore declared that he will be giving away the $1 million he made from the tour to groups that support Palestinians. He asked Robert Kraft to match his donation. Kraft responded by committing to give $2 million in “aid to the region”, though he did not name which organizations would receive his funds.
Macklemore has released the first three stops on his Free Palestine Tour, now that his schedule has opened up a bit. Every dollar raised from these shows will go to groups working in support of the Palestinian people and their cause.
The Three Dates on the Board
The Free Palestine Tour begins its run in Dublin on October 26, at the 3Arena. The next venue is Paris, where it stops on October 29, at Accor Arena. The tour wraps up in London on October 30, at Wembley Arena.
The artist has not disclosed the names of anyone joining him on stage. What has been confirmed is a trio of arena dates: Dublin, Paris and London.
This is still a developing project. The artist admits he has “spent the last week reaching out to artists who have shown up and used their stages to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, regardless of the consequences.”, according to the tour itself.
What Macklemore Has Written About It
In his announcement, Macklemore positioned the tour as a period of growing strength. He wrote:
“If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it’s that something has shifted over the last three years. There has been a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation, the power of billionaires that try to censor that call, and what we expect from artists right now.”
He went on to say: “It’s 2026. Being apolitical during a genocide doesn’t work anymore. People are asking artists to show up, educate themselves and be in community. To use the stage for more than entertainment. To push back when the call for a Free Palestine is met with attempts to silence it.”
Macklemore also addressed the wider stakes of his situation. “What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage,” he wrote. “When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention.”
The Financial Stakes Are Real
Palestinian aid will receive all of Macklemore’s income from the Sheeran tour, rather than him merely declaring his support for the cause. Instead of announcing his intention, he has handed over the proceeds from the live performances.
The proceeds from the tour are meant to benefit organizations working with and for the Palestinian people and their movement, and a $1 million donation is attached to those funds. The idea is that ticket sales will generate additional revenue to support that goal.
For the past week, Macklemore has been reaching out to artists who have stepped forward to use their stages in support of the Palestinian people, even when it brought consequences. These artists will travel with him on tour, although their names remain unannounced.
The Solidarity Response
The solidarity response to Macklemore’s removal from the Sheeran tour was swift. Every other opener on that tour quit in support, as did Sheeran’s own backing band.
The singer’s response was split down the middle. He admitted he was “not complicit,” yet wept over it in front of the audience. That difference between what he said and how he acted made up a large share of the tale.
Now that Macklemore has turned that moment into a platform, his tour operates as a direct extension of his own activism, with him asking other artists to join him on stage.
The Schedule Is Still Being Worked Out
Macklemore admits the specifics are still in flux. Given how fast everything has come together, many of the conversations, schedules and particulars remain unresolved.
So far, he’s only confirmed the three arena performances. More artist names and additional US dates will be revealed soon. Presale begins next Monday at 10am local time, while general tickets go on sale next Wednesday at 10am local time.
At macklemore.com, people who want to stay informed and get early ticket chances can register for alerts.
What We Make of It
A professional setback has given Macklemore an opportunity to make a political statement, and he is using his earnings to finance it.
Palestinian aid is the goal, and the plan is simple: Macklemore is setting aside every dollar he earns from the Sheeran tour for it. He is also playing arenas across North America to gather more support. The project is still taking shape, with pieces yet to be settled, but the intention behind it remains firm.
Momentum is building around the Free Palestine Tour, and there is still work to be done. May his efforts last and endure.
The three confirmed dates break down like this:
- Dublin, Ireland, October 26, at the 3Arena
- Paris, France, October 29, at Accor Arena
- London, United Kingdom, October 30, at Wembley Arena
Source material: “Macklemore Announces Free Palestine Tour,” Stereogum.
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