Ed Sheeran openers MetLife became a major topic among concertgoers as the global singer-songwriter arrived at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, for two highly anticipated LOOP Tour performances on September 4 and September 5, 2026. The stadium lineup featured Macklemore, Lukas Graham and BIIRD before Sheeran took the stage, creating a full evening of live music for fans attending the New Jersey shows.
The MetLife dates represented another major stop on Sheeran’s 2026 North American stadium tour, which supports his album Play. The concerts also gained additional attention after Camila Cabello unexpectedly joined Sheeran onstage during the first MetLife performance for a special rendition of their hit collaboration “Bam Bam.”
Key Points Summary
╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ – Macklemore, Lukas Graham and BIIRD were the three scheduled support acts for Ed Sheeran’s MetLife Stadium concerts. ║
║ – Sheeran performed at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 4 and September 5, 2026. ║
║ – The venue listed a 5:30 p.m. event start, with doors scheduled to open at 4:30 p.m. ║
║ – Macklemore, Lukas Graham and BIIRD gave fans three different musical styles before Sheeran’s headline set. ║
║ – Sheeran’s LOOP Tour combines songs from Play with major hits from throughout his career. ║
║ – Camila Cabello surprised fans by joining Sheeran for “Bam Bam” during the September 4 concert. ║
║ – The MetLife performances were among the major Northeast stops on Sheeran’s 2026 stadium schedule. ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Who Opened for Ed Sheeran at MetLife Stadium?
Ed Sheeran’s LOOP Tour concerts at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 4 and 5, 2026, featured BIIRD, Lukas Graham, and Macklemore as the official supporting acts. MetLife Stadium and Sheeran’s official tour website both confirmed the three-artist lineup.
For the September 4 show, the performers appeared in the following order: BIIRD opened at 5:30 p.m., Lukas Graham followed at 6:00 p.m., and Macklemore performed at 6:45 p.m. Ed Sheeran then took the stage at approximately 8:00 p.m.
BIIRD provided the first musical performance of the evening, followed by Danish singer-songwriter Lukas Graham, whose pop and soul-influenced music offered a different sound before the headline performance. Macklemore then closed the opening-act portion of the night with his hip-hop set before Sheeran’s arrival.
The same supporting lineup was listed for both MetLife Stadium dates, making BIIRD, Lukas Graham, and Macklemore the confirmed openers for Sheeran’s New Jersey concerts. Ticketmaster also lists all three artists alongside Sheeran for both September 4 and September 5.
BIIRD Starts the Night
BIIRD was the first supporting performer scheduled to take the stage at Ed Sheeran’s MetLife Stadium concert, beginning the evening before Lukas Graham and Macklemore appeared. The artist’s opening position gave fans an opportunity to hear their music as the stadium program got underway.
For the September 4, 2026, show, the reported schedule placed BIIRD’s performance at approximately 5:30 p.m. That early time was significant for concertgoers who wanted to experience the complete lineup rather than arriving closer to Sheeran’s headline set.
The opening slot also placed BIIRD in front of a large stadium audience attending one of Sheeran’s New Jersey dates. After BIIRD’s performance, Lukas Graham was scheduled to follow, with Macklemore taking the final supporting-act position before Sheeran.
For fans researching the MetLife Stadium lineup, BIIRD was therefore the first opener of the evening, while Lukas Graham and Macklemore followed later in the pre-show schedule.
Lukas Graham Brings a Different Sound
Lukas Graham followed BIIRD as the second supporting performer at Ed Sheeran’s MetLife Stadium concerts. The Danish singer-songwriter added a melodic pop and soul-influenced sound to the evening before Macklemore took the stage.
Lukas Graham is internationally recognized for songs including “7 Years,” “Mama Said” and “Love Someone.” His music has helped establish him as a familiar name among pop audiences in the United States and around the world.
His position in the lineup also created a contrast between the opening performances. After BIIRD introduced the evening, Lukas Graham brought his established catalog and singer-songwriter style to the MetLife Stadium audience. Macklemore then followed with his hip-hop performance before Ed Sheeran’s headline set.
For fans attending the complete concert program, Lukas Graham’s appearance was an important part of the supporting lineup. His recognizable songs gave longtime listeners an opportunity to hear his material live while also introducing his music to Sheeran’s audience.
As of the latest information for the 2026 MetLife Stadium shows, Lukas Graham remained officially listed alongside BIIRD and Macklemore as one of Sheeran’s three supporting acts.
Macklemore Takes the Stage Before Sheeran
Macklemore served as the final supporting act before Ed Sheeran at the September 4 and 5, 2026, concerts at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The official MetLife Stadium listing confirms that Macklemore, Lukas Graham and BIIRD were the three special guests for Sheeran’s two-night LOOP Tour engagement.
The Seattle-born rapper brought the most overtly hip-hop-focused performance of the evening, following BIIRD and Lukas Graham. Macklemore is widely known for crossover hits including “Thrift Shop,” “Can’t Hold Us,” “Same Love” and “Glorious,” giving him a catalog well suited to a large stadium audience.
On the first MetLife night, Macklemore was scheduled to begin at approximately 6:45 p.m., according to the reported set times. He performed for roughly 45 minutes before Ed Sheeran began his headline performance at approximately 8:00 p.m.
His placement created a clear progression through the concert. BIIRD opened the evening around 5:30 p.m., Lukas Graham followed at 6:00 p.m., Macklemore took the stage at 6:45 p.m., and Sheeran followed at about 8:00 p.m.
For fans attending the MetLife Stadium shows, Macklemore’s position was especially important because he was the last supporting performer before the headliner. His energetic set helped transition the audience from the opening acts into Sheeran’s main performance, making him a key part of the evening’s overall concert lineup.
What Time Did the MetLife Concert Start?
MetLife Stadium scheduled Ed Sheeran’s LOOP Tour concerts with the event beginning at 5:30 p.m., while doors were scheduled to open at 4:30 p.m. The early event time reflected the concert’s multi-artist format, with three supporting performers scheduled before Sheeran’s headline performance.
For the September 4 show, the reported performance schedule placed BIIRD at approximately 5:30 p.m., Lukas Graham at about 6:00 p.m., and Macklemore at around 6:45 p.m. Ed Sheeran then took the stage at approximately 8:00 p.m.
This schedule meant that fans who wanted to see the entire lineup needed to arrive well before Sheeran’s headline appearance. Arriving around the doors-open time of 4:30 p.m. provided an opportunity to enter the stadium, get settled and be ready for BIIRD’s opening performance.
The timing also illustrates how the evening was structured: BIIRD opened the program, Lukas Graham followed with his singer-songwriter set, and Macklemore performed immediately before Sheeran.
Concert schedules can change because of production requirements, artist performances, venue operations or other circumstances. Fans attending a specific MetLife Stadium date should therefore check the latest official event information before traveling to the venue.
Ed Sheeran’s MetLife Setlist Features Career Favorites
Sheeran’s LOOP Tour has been built around a mixture of new material and songs that helped establish him as one of the world’s biggest singer-songwriters.
The MetLife performance included songs spanning multiple stages of his career.
The September 4 set featured “Shivers,” “Castle on the Hill,” “The A Team,” “Sapphire,” “Lego House,” “Eyes Closed,” “I’m a Mess,” “Supermarket Flowers,” “Give Me Love” and “Photograph.”
He also performed fan favorites including “Thinking Out Loud,” “Perfect,” “I See Fire,” “Shape of You,” “Azizam” and “Bad Habits.”
The show additionally incorporated songs from Play, including newer tracks such as “Old Phone” and “Camera.”
This balance between newer material and established hits is one of the defining characteristics of the current tour.
The Role of Play in the LOOP Tour
The LOOP Tour is closely connected to Sheeran’s latest album, Play.
Rather than creating a concert entirely around the new record, Sheeran has incorporated songs from the album into a broader career-spanning performance.
That approach gives longtime fans familiar songs while allowing newer tracks to become part of the live experience.
At MetLife, songs including “Sapphire,” “Old Phone,” “Camera” and “Azizam” appeared alongside older favorites.
The result was a setlist designed to represent different periods of Sheeran’s career instead of focusing exclusively on one album.
Camila Cabello’s Surprise MetLife Appearance
One of the biggest moments from the New Jersey concerts came when Camila Cabello unexpectedly joined Sheeran onstage.
Cabello appeared during the September 4 performance for “Bam Bam,” the 2022 collaboration originally released as part of Cabello’s Familia era.
The surprise appearance gave the MetLife audience an unexpected reunion between two artists who have worked together on multiple songs.
Sheeran reportedly introduced Cabello by highlighting their long friendship before the pair performed the song together.
The collaboration was particularly fitting for the LOOP Tour because Sheeran’s concerts have increasingly incorporated special musical moments alongside his standard set.
Cabello’s appearance was not part of the advertised opening lineup, however. She was a surprise guest rather than one of the scheduled supporting artists.
Why the MetLife Lineup Stood Out
The strength of the MetLife lineup came from the variety of artists.
BIIRD represented the newer end of the bill, while Lukas Graham brought established pop songwriting and Macklemore delivered a high-energy hip-hop set.
Sheeran then took over as the headline performer with a show built around guitar, vocals, looping technology, visual production and songs spanning his career.
This type of multi-artist stadium lineup can turn a headline concert into an all-evening event.
Fans arriving early could experience several distinct performances before the main show, while those primarily interested in Sheeran had a clear headline set to anticipate later in the night.
How MetLife Fits Into the 2026 LOOP Tour
The New Jersey concerts were part of Sheeran’s extensive 2026 North American stadium schedule.
The North American leg began in June and includes major stadiums across the United States and Canada.
After the two MetLife performances, Sheeran’s schedule moves to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on September 19, followed by two concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on September 25 and September 26.
The supporting lineup changes at some later stops.
For several upcoming North American dates, Macklemore and Lukas Graham remain on the bill, while Aaron Rowe replaces BIIRD as another support act.
That means fans should not assume that the MetLife supporting lineup applies to every LOOP Tour performance.
A Major Night for New Jersey Fans
MetLife Stadium has become an important destination for major international touring artists, and Sheeran’s two-night engagement added another significant concert event to the venue’s 2026 calendar.
Playing two consecutive nights at a stadium of this size also reflects the continuing demand for Sheeran’s live performances.
His previous Mathematics Tour established him as one of the world’s most successful stadium performers, and the LOOP Tour builds on that momentum with a new production and material from Play.
The MetLife shows offered fans both scale and familiarity, combining new songs with tracks that have become staples of Sheeran’s live performances.
What Fans Remembered From the MetLife Shows
While the opening acts provided much of the evening’s buildup, Sheeran’s headline set remained the central attraction.
The reported September 4 performance lasted approximately three hours and included more than 30 songs and segments.
The set moved between the main stage and B-stage, creating a more dynamic experience for spectators throughout the stadium.
Songs such as “The A Team,” “Lego House,” “Photograph,” “Thinking Out Loud” and “Perfect” provided nostalgic moments, while newer material from Play showed where Sheeran’s current musical direction is heading.
The surprise “Bam Bam” performance with Cabello added another layer to an already extensive show.
What the Ed Sheeran Openers MetLife Lineup Means for Fans
For anyone searching for the Ed Sheeran openers MetLife, the answer is straightforward: BIIRD, Lukas Graham and Macklemore were the scheduled supporting performers for both September 4 and September 5.
The lineup gave the concerts a broad musical range before Sheeran’s arrival.
BIIRD opened the event, Lukas Graham followed, and Macklemore performed in the final support position.
Meanwhile, Sheeran’s own set delivered a combination of new songs, classic hits and special moments, including the surprise appearance from Camila Cabello.
Final Thoughts
Ed Sheeran’s two-night MetLife Stadium engagement delivered much more than a standard headline concert. The combination of BIIRD, Lukas Graham and Macklemore gave fans three distinct opening performances, while Sheeran’s extensive LOOP Tour set brought together music from Play and some of his biggest career successes.
The surprise appearance by Camila Cabello made the September 4 concert particularly memorable, turning the performance of “Bam Bam” into one of the night’s standout moments.
With the LOOP Tour continuing through North America, Sheeran’s MetLife shows also offered a preview of the large-scale production and evolving setlist fans can expect at upcoming stadium dates.
Which Ed Sheeran song would you most want to hear live, and which opening act would you have arrived early to see? Share your thoughts and stay tuned for more concert updates.