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Macklemore Launches Palestine Aid Tour
Published : Wednesday, 28 October, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Observer Online Report
US rapper Macklemore has turned his removal from Ed Sheeran’s North American tour into a fundraising campaign for Palestinians, launching his sold-out Free Palestine concert series in Dublin on Monday.
The concert at Dublin’s 3Arena brought together musicians and public figures in support of Palestinians, with all proceeds from the tour set to benefit organisations providing humanitarian assistance, medical care, education and advocacy.
Macklemore was dropped from the remaining US dates of Sheeran’s Loop Tour in September after expressing support for Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank during performances at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. The rapper had called for a “Free Palestine” and said Palestinians should know they had not been forgotten.
The tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, said venues hosting upcoming shows had informed it that they would not allow concerts featuring Macklemore. Sheeran subsequently said the decision was not his, explaining that the removal followed discussions with venues and other stakeholders.
Rather than abandon the planned performances, Macklemore announced a separate tour last month, bringing together artists willing to use their platforms to support Palestinians.
The Dublin concert featured Irish singer Hozier, hip-hop group Kneecap, Irish folk band Beoga, Palestinian singer Lina Makoul, Palestinian-American DJ Habibeats and members of US hip-hop duo Dead Prez. Irish actor Liam Cunningham also addressed the audience, while video messages and other performances added to the programme.
Beoga was among the acts that withdrew from Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Macklemore. Other artists who pulled out of scheduled appearances included singer Aaron Rowe, American musician Finneas and Danish band Lukas Graham.
The controversy has also prompted debate over artistic freedom and the influence of concert venues on performers’ political expression.
Grammy-winning producer Jack Antonoff recently criticised Sheeran for continuing with the tour rather than cancelling shows and performing outside the venues to raise money for Palestinians. Antonoff described the situation as a missed opportunity and defended Macklemore’s public stance as a humanitarian act.
Sheeran, meanwhile, has described the devastation in Gaza as “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate” and expressed concern about venues influencing what artists can say on stage.
The Free Palestine tour is scheduled to continue in Paris on Thursday (October 29) before moving to London on Friday (October 30). Additional US dates are expected to be announced.
Organisers have listed several beneficiary organisations, including Medical Aid for Palestinians, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, Anera and UNRWA USA, alongside other groups providing humanitarian relief and community support.
The concert series has placed humanitarian fundraising and freedom of expression at the centre of the dispute, turning Macklemore’s removal from a major stadium tour into a wider campaign involving musicians and supporters of Palestinian causes.
- MaT
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, 01550707296
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], Online-email: [email protected]
