Ed Sheeran Tour Faces Uncertainty as Supporting Acts Withdraw

Ed Sheeran is scheduled to continue his tour on Saturday in Philadelphia, potentially as a solo act, after all his supporting performers withdrew in solidarity with opener Macklemore, who was dropped from the lineup after making pro-Palestinian remarks on stage.

The departures include Danish band Lukas Graham, Irish singer Aaron Rowe, and Finneas, who was slated to join Sheeran for South American dates later this year. Macklemore, the original U.S. opener, had been replaced before the subsequent wave of withdrawals.

Sheeran has not publicly addressed the situation since the artists pulled out. As of Friday, tickets remained available for the Philadelphia show, and his website had not listed any replacements. A coalition of pro-Palestinian organizations has announced plans to protest outside the venue on Saturday.

The situation escalated after Macklemore was removed following his Sept. 5 statement of "Free Palestine" during a New Jersey performance. Sheeran indicated that the decision was not his own, stating it was made at the urging of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose company owns a stadium where Sheeran's tour was scheduled to play. Sheeran's representatives have not responded to requests for comment.

Macklemore announced Wednesday that he is donating $1 million to Palestinian relief efforts and called on Kraft to match the donation. A spokesperson for Kraft stated that both Kraft and Sheeran have agreed to donate $2 million each, though the specific recipients have not been disclosed.

Sheeran's Loop Tour has been highly successful, earning an average of over $7 million per city, according to Pollstar in May. Through the end of 2025, Sheeran ranked as the third highest-earning concert act since 2021.

Sheeran has previously stated that the tour promoter was ultimately responsible for the decision to drop Macklemore. He also expressed that his fans attend his shows for the music, not for discussions about political conflicts, and that he had attempted to mediate the situation before Macklemore's removal. He emphasized his commitment to not letting down his fans, touring crew, or others who depend on the tour for their livelihood.

While promoters and venues hold significant influence over concert tours, industry experts suggest that artists of Sheeran's stature typically have the final decision-making authority regarding their shows.