Macklemore Opens Free Palestine Tour in Dublin

Macklemore began his Free Palestine Tour in Dublin on Monday night.

The sold-out event at the 3Arena served as a benefit concert for organizations supporting Palestine. Organizers kept the lineup secret until the show started. The bill included Hozier, the Irish group Kneecap, and Palestinian-American DJ Habibeats. Palestinian singer Lina Makoul and rapper M1 of Dead Prez also performed.

Boega, the backing band that left Ed Sheeran’s tour to support Macklemore, joined the lineup in Dublin. The tour is the first of three sold-out shows. The next stop is Paris’ Accor Arena on Oct. 29. The final show is scheduled for London’s OVO Arena Wembley on Oct. 30.

Irish actor Liam Cunningham, activist Nadia Greenspan, and artist Samir Eskanda spoke on stage as special guests. Cunningham addressed the crowd about the balance between celebration and awareness. “Enjoying tonight does not mean forgetting about the suffering in Gaza,” Cunningham said. “It means celebrating the humanity and life that Palestinians have fought so hard to protect.”

All proceeds from the three concerts will go to groups aiding the Palestinian movement. A press release stated that these organizations provide medical supplies, food, and humanitarian assistance. They also focus on education, community support, advocacy, and policy changes in countries deemed complicit. The release noted that Palestinian families, children, healthcare workers, and artists continue to face impacts from the ongoing situation in Gaza.

Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour last month. He had shared his “free Palestine” message during his opening sets. This drew headlines and led to his departure from the supporting act role. Sheeran’s promoter, Messina Touring Group, issued a statement explaining the decision. The group said venues for upcoming U.S. dates threatened to pull out if Macklemore remained on the bill. “Venues.. will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup,” the statement read. This would have resulted in tour cancellation and affected hundreds of thousands of fans.

After discussions with stakeholders, the promoter confirmed Macklemore would not perform on the remaining support dates. Sheeran later addressed the controversy directly to fans during his own performances. He said he did not want to be an activist musician but found himself in the middle of a debate on freedom of speech. “My concerts have always been a safe space for everyone,” Sheeran said. He added that honoring his commitment to fans is essential to his identity, which is why he continued the tour alone.

Sheeran expressed concern that venues pre-approve performance content. He noted this practice happens in many places globally but should not happen in the free world. In announcing his new tour, Macklemore posted on Instagram about the shift in the past three years. He described a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation and the power of billionaires attempting to censor that call. “It’s 2026,” Macklemore wrote. “Being apolitical during a genocide doesn’t work anymore.”

Macklemore said people are now asking artists to show up and educate themselves. He emphasized using the stage for more than entertainment. He called for pushing back when the call for a Free Palestine is met with attempts to silence it.