Macklemore opened his Free Palestine Tour with a sold-out benefit concert at Dublin’s 3Arena on Monday night, bringing out Hozier, Kneecap and a wider group of artists and speakers for a lineup that had been kept under wraps before the show.

Palestinian-American DJ and producer DJ Habibeats, Palestinian singer-songwriter Lina Makoul and M1 of Dead Prez also appeared at the Dublin event. Boega, the backing band that withdrew from Ed Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Macklemore, joined the bill as well.

The concert was the first of three sold-out dates in the benefit series. The tour is scheduled to continue at Paris’ Accor Arena on Oct. 29 before moving to London’s OVO Arena Wembley on Oct. 30.

A Benefit Built Around Music and Advocacy

Alongside the musical performances, the Dublin show featured appearances by Irish actor Liam Cunningham, activist and psychotherapist Nadia Greenspan, and artist, activist and organizer Samir Eskanda.

“Enjoying tonight does not mean forgetting about the suffering in Gaza,” Cunningham said from the stage, according to published reports. “It means celebrating the humanity and life that Palestinians have fought so hard to protect.”

All proceeds from the three concerts will go to organizations supporting Palestine and the Palestinian movement. A press release said the beneficiaries represent a wide range of efforts, from supplying food, medical resources and humanitarian assistance to supporting education, communities, advocacy and calls for policy change in countries described as complicit.

The release said Palestinian families, children, healthcare workers, students, artists and communities affected by what it characterized as the ongoing genocide in Gaza are at the center of the concert series.

The Tour Follows Macklemore’s Exit From Ed Sheeran’s Bill

Macklemore’s Dublin launch came weeks after he was removed from the remaining support dates on Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour. The rapper had attracted attention for pro-Palestine speeches delivered during his opening performances, including his “free Palestine” message.

Messina Touring Group, Sheeran’s longtime concert promoter, said at the time that venues scheduled to host upcoming U.S. dates had warned that they would not allow concerts to proceed with Macklemore on the lineup. According to the promoter, that position risked the cancellation of the tour and would have affected hundreds of thousands of fans.

“After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates,” the company said.

Sheeran subsequently addressed the dispute onstage, saying he had never sought to become an activist musician but had found himself caught in a passionate debate involving free speech and what he called “the most complex political issue on the planet.” He said maintaining his concerts as a safe space and honoring his commitment to fans were essential to his decision to continue the tour on his own.

The singer also voiced concern about venues seeking advance approval of performance content. “This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world,” Sheeran said.

When announcing the Free Palestine Tour, Macklemore framed the new run of concerts as a response to the controversy and to changing expectations surrounding artists and political engagement.

“It’s 2026. Being apolitical during a genocide doesn’t work anymore,” he wrote on Instagram. Macklemore said people were asking artists to educate themselves, participate in community and use their platforms for more than entertainment. He also called on performers to resist efforts to silence demands for a free Palestine.

ShowBiz Take

The Dublin concert marks a significant shift in Macklemore’s response to his removal from Sheeran’s tour. Rather than stepping away from the issue, he has placed it at the center of his own three-city, sold-out benefit series.

The decision to withhold the Dublin lineup also made the appearances by Hozier, Kneecap and the other participating performers a major element of the opening night. At the same time, the inclusion of Palestinian artists, activists and humanitarian objectives established the event as more than a standard multi-artist concert.

The result is a tour built directly around the message that led to Macklemore’s departure from another high-profile bill, with ticket proceeds tied to organizations providing assistance and pursuing advocacy for Palestinians.

What Happens Next?

Following the Dublin opener, the Free Palestine Tour is set to stage its second sold-out concert at Accor Arena in Paris on Oct. 29. The three-show series will then conclude at OVO Arena Wembley in London on Oct. 30.