Macklemore Fills Dublin Arena for Benefit

Macklemore opened a sold-out benefit concert at Dublin’s 3Arena on Monday night, marking the start of a three-city tour that follows his abrupt removal from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour. The event, which generated revenue for Palestinian causes, featured a lineup that included Hozier, Kneecap, DJ Habibeats, Lina Makoul, and M1 of Dead Prez. The band Boega, which left Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Macklemore, also performed.

The concert series continues at Paris’ Accor Arena on October 29 and concludes at London’s OVO Arena Wembley on October 30. Organizers kept the lineup private until the shows began. All proceeds from the three dates will go to organizations supporting Palestine and the Palestinian movement.

Special guest speakers at the Dublin show included Irish actor Liam Cunningham, psychotherapist Nadia Greenspan, and artist Samir Eskanda. Cunningham addressed the audience directly, stating that enjoying the music meant celebrating the humanity and life that Palestinians have fought to protect, rather than forgetting the suffering in Gaza.

Macklemore’s departure from Sheeran’s tour last month stemmed from his pro-Palestine speeches during opening sets. Messina Touring Group, the promoter for the Loop Tour, stated that venues threatened to cancel the tour if Macklemore remained on the bill. The group noted that this decision would impact hundreds of thousands of fans, leading to his removal from the remaining support dates.

Ed Sheeran addressed the controversy onstage during a solo performance. He described the situation as putting him in the middle of a passionate argument about freedom of speech. Sheeran said he was deeply worried that venues pre-approve content for performance, a practice he believed should not happen in the free world. He emphasized his commitment to keeping concerts a safe space for all fans.

In a statement posted to Instagram, Macklemore framed the tour as a response to a collective awakening regarding Palestinian liberation. He wrote that being apolitical during a genocide does not work anymore in 2026. He said people are asking artists to use their stages for education and community, and to push back when calls for a Free Palestine are met with attempts to silence them.

A press release for the tour detailed the scope of the beneficiary organizations. It stated that these groups provide medical supplies, food, and humanitarian assistance. The release also noted that the organizations advance education, community support, and advocacy for policy change in countries described as complicit.