Mark Ruffalo, Hozier, Kneecap show up to support ‘Free Palestine’ tour: ‘We wanna thank Ed Sheeran for helping to organize this concert’
Standing firm.
Macklemore kicked off his highly-anticipated ‘Free Palestine’ tour in Dublin on October 26, 2026, Monday, turning a period of intense personal controversy into a massive show of solidarity. According to Variety, the event at 3Arena was packed with people wearing keffiyehs and waving Palestinian flags, setting a charged tone for the start of a three-show run that will also hit Paris and London. All proceeds from the concerts are going to charities supporting Palestine.
Hozier made a massive impact as the first heavyweight guest of the night, performing tracks like Too Sweet and From Eden. Irish rap trio Kneecap brought a different kind of energy to the arena, sparking mosh pits among the attendees. During their set, member Móglaí Bap made a cheeky comment that drew major cheers from the crowd. “We wanna thank Macklemore for organizing this concert. We wanna thank Ed Sheeran for helping to organize this concert,” he said.
Actor Mark Ruffalo also appeared in a pre-recorded video, telling the stadium, “Keep fighting for a free Palestine and humanity all over the world and amongst the people. There will be no peace until there’s equality. Lots of love, have a good show. Keep fighting the good fight.” Reality Tea reports that Ruffalo has faced his own share of public scrutiny for his comments on the situation in Gaza, including a time when he rejected accusations of perpetuating tropes after criticizing Oracle.
Many other celebrities and performers showed up in support of Palestine
In his introduction, actor Liam Cunningham told the crowd, “Tonight, we celebrate life. We honor resilience. We stand with Gaza!” The musical performances started with Palestinian-Israeli singer Lina Makoul, followed by the band Beoga. Percussionist Eamon Murray kept the energy high, telling the audience, “Don’t f— with the Irish!”
The show also featured video messages from other stars who could not attend in person. Julian Casablancas of The Strokes thanked Macklemore for his efforts, while Ilana Glazer urged the crowd to keep speaking up.
During his set on Monday, Macklemore addressed the fallout directly. “Six weeks ago, it was two words. Two words is all that it took. Two words that are rooted in love and liberation,” the rapper said. Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, popularly known as Macklemore, insisted that his message was not divisive or a call for hatred. He described it as a call to recognize shared humanity, freedom, and the right to exist without fear.
“And yet,” he continued, “those two words are so threatening to some people. They would rather silence those two words than confront what they actually mean. Because freedom that requires another person’s oppression is not freedom at all.”
Hozier commends Irish support for Gaza
Hozier shared his pride in how his country is showing up for the cause. He also highlighted that 55 students in Gaza are waiting for visas from the Irish government so they can study in the country.
The singer noted, “This has happened before. It happened last year, and this can be solved with ministerial discretion. It’s an absolute wonder, it’s baffling how it hasn’t been solved yet.” In a rare live performance, he played an 18th-century folk song titled The Prayer of Shields.
Macklemore appeared in a green-and-orange keffiyeh. He looked visibly moved, wiping tears from his eyes as the audience broke into a chant of “free Palestine.” He told the crowd that he was proud to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and promised to continue the fight for collective liberation.
He performed a mix of hits like Thrift Shop and Same Love, and even debuted a new song written just last week. The night ended with his 2012 hit Can’t Hold Us, during which he climbed into the crowd. He will continue the tour in Paris on Thursday and London on Friday.
Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour six week ago
The rapper’s return to the stage comes just over six weeks after he was dropped from the remainder of Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop tour. This followed political speeches and comments he made during two concerts at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5. At the time, promoter Messina Touring Group claimed they were notified by venues that they would not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup.
Macklemore alleged that it was Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft who pushed him out of that tour. The situation caused a ripple effect, as Sheeran’s other opening acts, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe, plus his backing band Beoga, dropped out in solidarity.
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