US rapper Macklemore is bringing his outspoken activism to Europe with a series of benefit concerts next month, after being dropped from Ed Sheeran's US stadium tour for voicing support for Palestine. The Grammy-winning artist, born Benjamin Haggerty, announced the 'Free Palestine Tour' with dates in Dublin, Paris and London, promising that all proceeds will go to humanitarian organisations working with Palestinians.
"If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it's that something has shifted over the last three years," Macklemore said in a statement. "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 tour will stop at the 3Arena in Dublin on 26 October, the Accor Arena in Paris on 29 October, and the OVO Arena Wembley in London on 30 October. A North American leg is expected to be announced later. Macklemore said he will be joined on stage by "artists who have shown up and used their stages to stand in solidarity."
Artists and politics
The announcement comes after a turbulent few weeks for the rapper, who was removed from Sheeran's tour following comments he made on stage. The decision was reportedly influenced by Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots, who said his venue would not "provide a platform for hate speech." Kraft and Sheeran each pledged $2 million to "aid in the region," though no specific organisations were named.
Macklemore, who had already pledged $1 million of his tour salary to Palestinian aid, described the backlash as part of a broader shift in how audiences view artists' responsibilities. "In 2026, being apolitical during a genocide doesn't work anymore," he said. "Audiences expect 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."
The controversy has also sparked a wider backlash in Europe, with Irish radio stations dropping Sheeran's music and other artists publicly backing Macklemore. Sheeran, who has largely avoided political statements, defended his position in a statement that drew criticism from many fans and fellow musicians.
"Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn't mean I don't have them, and it doesn't mean I don't care. Nor does it mean I don't support causes in my own, personal way," Sheeran wrote. "There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics – my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum."
Macklemore's European tour is being organised with Live Nation, which said the shows will "bring Macklemore together with artists and friends for a series of performances that center Palestine and Palestinians, and help provide humanitarian aid and support to the movement."
Beneficiaries include 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's European focus is notable, given the continent's strong public opinion on the Gaza conflict and the growing pressure on artists to take stances. As the debate over artistic responsibility continues, Macklemore's concerts are likely to draw both supporters and critics, but he remains unapologetic. "Something has shifted," he said. "And we're not going back."
