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All support acts scheduled for the remaining dates on Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour withdrew on September 15, 2026, in solidarity with Macklemore after the rapper was dropped from the bill. Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Beoga announced their exits via Instagram hours after Sheeran posted a statement attributing the decision to promoters and venue owners rather than himself. Pitchfork reported that the moves followed Macklemore’s onstage remarks supporting Palestine during two shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5.
Finneas, scheduled for South American dates and known as Billie Eilish’s brother and collaborator, wrote on Instagram that artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. He added that he had decided to withdraw from his upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran and that he stands with Palestine and its people. The Washington Post noted that his departure added immediate pressure on the tour’s continuation.
Aaron Rowe, an Irish singer-songwriter booked for North American dates, stated that as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation. He continued that he cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children. Rowe concluded that he would lose all respect for himself to carry on as normal, according to accounts in Variety and Billboard.
Beoga, the Irish folk band that has worked with Sheeran since before his breakout success and co-wrote Galway Girl, said it objects to the silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies. The group added in its statement that while the stadium opportunity had not been lost on them the members believe in dialogue as a means of progressing the plight of the Palestinian people. Lukas Graham, the Danish band also set for North American shows, joined the exits the same afternoon.
Ed Sheeran wrote on Instagram that Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision and not his own, according to Rolling Stone. He explained that after Macklemore’s New Jersey performances several venues communicated they would pull the shows if the rapper remained on the bill and that he had engaged in talks with owners including Robert Kraft of Gillette Stadium to seek a resolution. Sheeran added that he would never let down the fans who had made plans nor abandon the touring crew and other support acts who rely on the work for their living.
Messina Touring Group, the promoter for the U.S. leg of the tour and a subsidiary of AEG, said in a statement that venues had notified it they would not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans. The tour is scheduled to resume this weekend in Philadelphia before stops including at Gillette Stadium later in September. A 2025 Chartmetric assessment found that the share of mid-level touring artists had fallen from 19 percent in 2022 to 12 percent in 2024 while the figure for superstars dropped from 44 percent to 36 percent, citing rising costs and other pressures across the live music sector.
