Ed Sheeran returned to the stage for a solo performance at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on September 19, 2026, following a week of significant tour turnover that saw all four of his support acts and his live backing band withdraw from the “Loop” tour.
During the performance, Sheeran addressed the controversy that has surrounded the tour since the removal of rapper Macklemore on September 14. Speaking to the crowd, Sheeran described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate,” while admitting he had made “mistakes” during the fallout of the past week.
The tour’s stability fractured after Macklemore was dropped from the lineup following a performance in New Jersey where he expressed pro-Palestinian sentiments. Sheeran told the Philadelphia audience that the decision to remove the rapper was not his own, instead attributing the move to tour promoters and venue owners. He specifically identified Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots and the stadium scheduled for upcoming tour stops, as being involved in the decision-making process.
In the days following Macklemore’s removal, the remaining support acts officially withdrew in solidarity. Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe all announced their departure on September 15 and 16, followed by the band Beoga. This mass exodus forced Sheeran to perform the Philadelphia set without his usual live accompaniment or opening acts.
Sheeran apologized to fans for the disruption during the Philadelphia performance.
The “Loop” tour is managed by the Messina Touring Group. It remains unclear how the remaining dates will be handled following the total departure of the original support lineup.
