Macklemore accuses nine US arenas of declining Free Palestine tour dates

Rapper Macklemore stated in an Instagram post on November 6, 2026, that nine major United States venues turned down bookings for his Free Palestine benefit tour. According to reports from Pitchfork, The FADER, Pollstar, and Consequence, the artist alleged that dates were initially available but venue operators withdrew them after learning the concerts were benefit shows for Palestine. [2][3][6][7]

The FADER and Consequence reported that the venues named by Macklemore included New York City's Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center, as well as the Kia Forum and Crypto.com Arena in the Los Angeles area. Nonstop Local News reported that Macklemore also named Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle as one of the venues that turned down the tour. [3][4][7]

Rolling Stone and The FADER reported that the Free Palestine tour was launched after Macklemore was removed as an opening act from Ed Sheeran's tour. The initial run featured three sold-out European benefit shows in Dublin, London, and Paris in October 2026, with proceeds directed to organizations providing aid and support to Gaza. [1][3]

As FTMQ Music reported earlier, Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour in September 2026 following pro-Palestine statements during performances in New Jersey. Following the venue claims, a spokesperson for Madison Square Garden stated that the venue has extremely limited availability and asserted that Macklemore is not an arena-level act. [13][14]