Macklemore is booking his own shows, and he is calling them the Free Palestine Tour. The rapper was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s opening act slot earlier this month after delivering a pro-Palestine speech from a New Jersey stage. Now he is selling tickets for his own gigs, with proceeds going to charities supporting the Palestinian people and movement.
The announcement comes with a pointed note. “It’s 2026,” Macklemore wrote on Instagram. “Being apolitical during a genocide doesn’t work anymore.”
What Happened
Sheeran dropped Macklemore from the opening act slot after the speech. Many fans saw the move as a neutral stance from Sheeran himself, who faced pressure from promoters including billionaire Robert Kraft to remove the rapper from the tour.
Macklemore has spent the last week reaching out to other artists “who understand that our platforms mean very little if we’re only willing to use them when it’s safe.” He said schedules and details are still being worked out.
The Tour Stops
Three dates have been confirmed so far:
| Date | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|
| October 25 | 3Arena | Dublin |
| October 29 | Accor Arena | Paris |
| October 30 | OVO Arena Wembley | London |
US dates, along with additional artists, are to be announced soon.
What Macklemore Said
In his statement, Macklemore framed the situation as bigger than his own career. “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.”
He also pointed to a shift in public attention. “If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it’s that something has shifted over the last three years,” he wrote. “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.”
The Political Turn
Macklemore’s jab at Sheeran is most likely directed at the singer’s attempt to stay neutral. Sheeran was viewed by many as trying to avoid taking sides after the pressure from Kraft and other promoters.
The rapper is not playing small. He is using the stage to push back against attempts to silence calls for a Free Palestine.
Key Facts
- Three dates confirmed: Dublin (October 25), Paris (October 29), London (October 30)
- US dates and additional artists to be announced soon
- Proceeds go to charities supporting the Palestinian people and movement
- Announcement made on Instagram
The tour is scheduled across Europe for October. US dates are coming, and the full lineup remains to be revealed.
Source material: “Macklemore Launches Free Palestine Tour; U.S. Dates To Be Announced,” Deadline.
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