Macklemore is heading back to the stage, and he’s bringing a cause with him. The Grammy-winning rapper has announced a run of “Free Palestine” concerts, with all proceeds going to Palestinian aid organizations, according to the Associated Press.
The series opens with three European dates next month: Dublin’s 3Arena on Oct. 26, Paris’ Accor Arena on Oct. 29, and London’s OVO Arena Wembley on Oct. 30. More artists and U.S. dates are expected to be announced later. An artist presale kicks off at 10 a.m. local time Monday at Macklemore.com.
The announcement comes roughly a week after Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour, where he had been booked as a supporting act for the North and South American leg.
A growing list of beneficiaries
Citing a Live Nation press release, the AP reports that proceeds will be distributed among a long roster of organizations. They include Anera, Glia, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Taawon, HEAL Palestine, the Palestinian Youth Movement, the Middle East Children’s Alliance, Jewish Voice for Peace, Medical Aid for Palestinians, the Institute for Middle East Understanding, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, and UNRWA USA, an American affiliate supporting the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees.
In an Instagram post announcing the shows, Macklemore framed the moment as part of a broader shift in how audiences and artists think about censorship and advocacy. “If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it’s that something has shifted over the last three years. 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,” he wrote.
He added: “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.”
Breitbart also noted that Macklemore previously made headlines for comments at a concert raising funds for Palestinians.
The Sheeran tour fallout
Macklemore’s removal from the Loop Tour became public last week, and the rapper attributed the decision to his onstage pro-Palestinian remarks. He has since said the move was the product of an effort led by Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots. Kraft’s group also owns Gillette Stadium, where the Patriots play and where Sheeran is scheduled to perform later this month.
Sheeran, for his part, said the decision to cut Macklemore from the tour came from the promoter, not from him.
The fallout didn’t stop with Macklemore. According to the AP, all of Sheeran’s other supporting acts subsequently dropped out as well—including a group that performs with Sheeran during part of his show.
A million-dollar pledge
Alongside the new concert series, Macklemore has said he will donate $1 million from his net earnings on the tour to six organizations aiding Palestinians.
The “Free Palestine” shows mark a return to live performance after a turbulent few weeks for the rapper, who has become one of the more prominent mainstream artists to speak out on the conflict. Whether the European dates are the start of a larger run—and how the promised U.S. shows take shape—remains to be seen, with announcements still to come.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/09/25/macklemore-plans-series-of-free-palestine-concerts-starting-in-europe/