Ed Sheeran to Continue Tour After Opening Acts Withdraw

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ed Sheeran is planning to resume his tour this Saturday, though he may perform alone, following the withdrawal of all his supporting acts. This action was taken in support of Macklemore, who was dropped from the lineup after making pro-Palestinian remarks during a performance.

How this performance at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field will unfold is uncertain, especially considering the absence of his opening acts and supporting band. Although Sheeran has done many Loop Tour concerts solo, he had previously been accompanied by the Irish folk band Beoga for parts of his set. After Macklemore’s dismissal, he was initially replaced by Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe, but both of them ultimately backed out as well.

Moreover, Finneas — Billie Eilish’s brother and longtime collaborator — was scheduled to join Sheeran on the South America leg of the tour, but he also dropped out earlier this week.

Since losing the support of these artists, Sheeran has remained quiet publicly. As of Friday, tickets for Saturday’s show were still available, and his website didn’t list any replacement performers. Notably, a coalition of pro-Palestinian groups has organized a protest outside the venue for Saturday afternoon.

This concert comes after a rocky week that began with Macklemore’s dismissal following his statement “Free Palestine” during a September 5 show in New Jersey. Sheeran claimed he wasn’t behind the decision, which was made under the influence of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Kraft’s company owns the stadium where Sheeran’s tour was set to play on Friday.

Shortly after Sheeran’s statement on Tuesday, his other acts decided to withdraw their support.

Macklemore announced on Wednesday that he would donate $1 million to Palestinian relief efforts and urged Kraft to match that donation. A spokesperson for Kraft mentioned that both he and Sheeran agreed to contribute $2 million, though they haven’t clarified how that money will be allocated. Sheeran’s representatives have yet to respond to multiple inquiries about the situation.

According to Pollstar, Sheeran’s Loop Tour was the highest-grossing in the world, averaging over $7 million per city, and by the end of 2025, Sheeran ranked as the No. 3 top-earning concert act since 2021.

In his Tuesday statement, Sheeran emphasized that the tour promoter was ultimately responsible for the decision to drop Macklemore. He was clear in stating that he didn’t want to engage in discussions regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza, believing his fans attend his shows for entertainment, not political discourse.

He also mentioned that he had been in extensive discussions with the venues throughout the week in an effort to find a resolution before Macklemore’s removal. Sheeran assured his fans that he would never intentionally let them down or abandon those in his touring crew who depend on him for their livelihoods.

While it’s true that promoters and venues hold significant influence over concert tours, experts suggest that a high-profile artist like Sheeran typically has the final say in matters concerning their performances.