Ed Sheeran Concert to Proceed in Philadelphia Amidst Opener Controversy and Planned Protests
Ed Sheeran's concert at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field is set to proceed, though with a delayed start time and no opening acts announced. This follows the removal of rapper Macklemore as an opener due to his pro-Palestinian comments, which caused…
Philadelphia, PA, September 18, 2026 —
Ed Sheeran’s highly anticipated concert at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field is scheduled to move forward as planned, organizers have confirmed. However, the event will feature a delayed start time, and as of now, no opening acts have been announced.
The absence of scheduled opening performers follows a controversy involving rapper Macklemore. Macklemore, who was slated to perform as an opener, was reportedly removed from the lineup due to his public pro-Palestinian comments. This decision subsequently led to other planned performers withdrawing from the bill in solidarity with Macklemore.
The situation has also drawn attention from local advocacy groups. These organizations are planning protests to coincide with the concert, expressing concerns over freedom of speech and what they describe as the exclusion of advocacy at the event. Details regarding the exact nature and timing of these protests were not immediately available.
Despite these developments, the core performance by Ed Sheeran is confirmed to proceed. The revised start time for the concert has been communicated to ticket holders. Information on any potential further changes to the lineup or event details remains limited.
Story summarized from the original created by Earl Hopkins, Dan DeLuca on www.inquirer.com, see more information here.
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