Ed Sheeran Addresses Gaza at Philadelphia Concert

Ed Sheeran opened his September 19 concert in Philadelphia by making statements about Gaza. He stated that he wants his music and concerts to be about unity and humanity rather than politics. Sheeran described the situation in Gaza as catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate. He added that he was deeply saddened by the destruction and loss experienced by civilians and children, and noted that he was speaking with people holding different views to make a contribution to help victims of hard times.

Sheeran performed solo during most of his Loop Tour concerts, with Beoga accompanying him for a few songs at every stop. Macklemore was originally the US opening artist for the tour. After Macklemore was removed from the tour, other support acts withdrew in solidarity. Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe were brought in as replacements, but they also withdrew. Additionally, Finneas was scheduled to tour South America with Sheeran later in the year, but he withdrew earlier in the week. Macklemore announced he would donate 1 million dollars to support Palestine relief efforts.

The Loop Tour was the highest-grossing tour worldwide, bringing in an average box office income of over 7 million dollars per city. As of late 2025, Sheeran ranked third among the top-earning concert artists since 2021.