Ed Sheeran set to play solo show after support acts quit

Editor Stephen Hill 19th September 2026

 Ed Sheeran is set to resume his tour on Saturday, potentially performing without supporting acts, after all of his scheduled openers withdrew in solidarity with Macklemore, who was dropped from the tour following pro-Palestinian remarks made onstage. Sheeran is due to perform at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, but it remains unclear how the show will be structured following the departure of his opening acts and supporting musicians. Much of Sheeran’s Loop Tour features him performing solo, although Irish folk band Beoga had joined him for several songs at previous stops. Macklemore, who was originally scheduled to open the US leg, was replaced by Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe. Both later withdrew. Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother and musical collaborator, had also been scheduled to join Sheeran’s tour in South America later this year, but pulled out earlier this week.

While promoters and venues have significant influence over concert tours, industry experts say artists of Sheeran’s stature generally have considerable control over how their performances are presented. Sheeran has not spoken publicly since his supporting acts withdrew. As of Friday, tickets for Saturday’s concert were still available, and his website had not announced any replacement performers. A coalition of pro-Palestinian organisations is also planning a protest outside the venue on Saturday afternoon. The controversy began earlier this month when Macklemore was dropped from the tour after saying “Free Palestine” during a September 5 performance in New Jersey. Sheeran has said he was not responsible for the decision, which was reportedly made following pressure from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose company owns a stadium where Sheeran’s tour was scheduled to perform on Friday.

Within hours of Sheeran’s statement on Tuesday, his remaining supporting acts announced that they would withdraw from the tour. Macklemore said Wednesday that he would donate $1 million to Palestinian relief efforts and challenged Kraft to match the contribution. A spokesperson for Kraft has said that both Kraft and Sheeran have agreed to donate $2 million, although they have not specified where the money will go. Sheeran’s representatives have not responded to multiple requests for comment. The Loop Tour has been one of the world’s highest-grossing concert tours. Pollstar reported in May that it was averaging more than $7 million in box-office revenue per city. Through the end of 2025, Sheeran ranked as the No. 3 highest-earning concert act since 2021. Sheeran has maintained that the tour promoter was ultimately responsible for the decision to remove Macklemore from the lineup.