Irish musicians Hozier and Kneecap joined American rapper Macklemore on stage at Dublin’s 3Arena for the opening night of his Free Palestine tour on Monday, October 26, 2026, with proceeds supporting Palestinian organizations, as reported by rte.ie.
The Essential Facts of the Dublin Concert
- Macklemore launched his three-date European tour at Dublin’s 3Arena on Monday evening, featuring surprise guests Hozier, Kneecap, and Beoga.
- All proceeds from the sold-out tour are directed to organizations supporting Palestine and the Palestinian movement.
- The tour follows Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s US stadium tour in September after making pro-Palestinian comments in New Jersey.
The Opening Night at Dublin’s 3Arena
The opening night of the Free Palestine tour brought a festival atmosphere to the Dublin venue. Actor Liam Cunningham delivered the opening remarks, according to rte.ie. Inside the arena, stands for Medical Aid for Palestinians and UNRWA sat opposite the concert merchandise, while appeals from organizations supporting Palestinians played on screens before the music started, The Journal reported. Keffiyeh-patterned fabric hung on both sides of the stage, and olive trees were arranged around the instruments.
Macklemore praised Irish support for Palestinians during the evening. He named Hozier and Kneecap among the artists who immediately agreed to participate when he called them, The Journal reported. The Belfast trio Kneecap also offered a pointed thank-you to Ed Sheeran for helping to make the event happen, according to the same report. During the concert, a recorded message from Mark Ruffalo was played on screen, drawing a huge reaction from the audience.
Surprise Guest Appearances and Speeches
Hozier made a surprise appearance at the 3Arena gig and used his time on stage to call on the Irish government to approve visa applications for students in Gaza. He described the situation as baffling, noting that it remains unresolved while families face devastation, The Journal reported. “Because freedom that requires another person’s oppression is not freedom at all,” Hozier told the audience, repeating the line and highlighting the controversy surrounding the phrase “Free Palestine.”
Beoga’s Eamon Murray spoke about the band’s involvement in Irish Artists for Palestine, recalling earlier restrictions against flags and chants at concerts. “The tide is changing,” Murray said, according to The Journal report. Macklemore closed out the night beyond the scheduled finish time with an encore featuring a new song written a week prior, ending the concert with his hit track “Can’t Hold Us.”
Background on the Ed Sheeran Tour Controversy
The Dublin concert took place following international headlines in September, when Macklemore was removed from the remaining US dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour. The rapper had expressed support for Palestinians while opening for Sheeran at the first of two shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. At the second show, Macklemore made a statement assuring Jewish fans that his criticisms of the Israeli government were not directed at Jewish people, as reported by the Irish Independent.
According to the Irish Independent, after the tour was scheduled to head to Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, stadium owner Robert Kraft—a supporter of Israel and its government—threatened to cancel the shows unless Macklemore was removed from the lineup. This led to the rapper’s dismissal from the tour. In solidarity, a number of other support acts subsequently withdrew from Sheeran’s tour, including Irish band Beoga and Dublin singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe. Ed Sheeran later clarified that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour promoter.
Upcoming European Tour Dates
Following the opening performance in Dublin, Macklemore’s Free Palestine tour continues with two more European stops. Performances are scheduled for Paris on Thursday and London on Friday, rte.ie reported. All three European dates sold out quickly after tickets went on sale.
An event we can all get behind☘️ ⬇️Hozier and Kneecap join Macklemore for Free Palestine gig. All proceeds of the tour are going to organisations supporting Palestine and the Palestinian movementhttps://t.co/tUOe8tNCPz
More on Free Palestine
Was there any of your Hamas friends there?Apparently they love the music gigs?
📸| Hozier on stage at @macklemore’s ‘Free Palestine’ concert tonight at @3ArenaDublin 🖤© shanehourihane pic.twitter.com/6wXEJIaiWG
Hozier, at the Macklemore and Friends Free Palestine tour, calling on the Irish government to act to ensure 55 Gaza students can enter the country after being denied a visa pic.twitter.com/KATinvGi9b
Hozier speaks as one of Macklemore special guests at his Free Palestine concert in Ireland pic.twitter.com/WVA5NfhROt
