Ed Sheeran opening acts have become a major topic for U.S. concertgoers after several scheduled performers withdrew from the LOOP Tour this week. The latest changes affect the remaining North American shows, with Macklemore removed from the tour and Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, Finneas and Beoga also announcing their departures.
The situation changed rapidly on September 15, just days before Sheeran’s next scheduled U.S. performance. Fans who purchased tickets based on earlier support-act announcements may now see different information across venue pages, ticket listings and social media.
For U.S. fans planning to attend one of the remaining shows, the most important update is that the previously announced support lineup is no longer intact.
The latest lineup change
The support lineup for Sheeran’s remaining shows has undergone a major shake-up.
Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. dates after comments he made during his September 4 performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. He used the stage to express support for Palestinians and performed “Hind’s Hall.”
Sheeran later said the decision to remove Macklemore came from the tour promoter and venues rather than from him personally.
Soon after that development, the other performers connected with the remaining tour dates announced their own withdrawals.
Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Finneas all said they would no longer participate in upcoming tour performances. Beoga, which had been working as Sheeran’s touring band, also announced its departure.
That leaves the remaining tour without the previously advertised support lineup.
Who are the current opening acts?
As of September 16, there are no newly announced replacement opening acts for the remaining U.S. shows in the latest confirmed information.
The artists who had been connected with the upcoming dates were:
| Artist | Previous tour role | Current status |
|---|---|---|
| Macklemore | Support act | Removed from remaining dates |
| Aaron Rowe | Support act | Withdrew |
| Lukas Graham | Support act | Withdrew |
| Finneas | Support act for later international dates | Withdrew |
| Beoga | Sheeran’s touring band | Withdrew |
This distinction matters because not every performer listed above was scheduled for exactly the same shows.
Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham were connected with the remaining U.S. dates. Finneas was scheduled for later South American shows. Beoga performed as part of Sheeran’s live setup rather than serving as a traditional opening act.
Macklemore’s departure started the latest changes
Macklemore’s removal triggered the sequence of announcements that followed.
He had been part of Sheeran’s North American stadium run and performed before Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 4.
During that performance, Macklemore made strong public comments about the Israel-Gaza conflict and voiced support for Palestinians.
The controversy continued after the concert. Macklemore later said he had been told that venues would not allow him to perform at several upcoming shows.
Sheeran addressed the situation publicly on September 15. He said he had spoken with venues, promoters and other people involved in an effort to find a solution.
Sheeran also said the final decision was made by the promoter and venues.
That statement was followed by the withdrawals of the remaining scheduled support performers.
Aaron Rowe leaves the tour
Aaron Rowe was one of the artists scheduled to continue performing on the U.S. portion of the LOOP Tour.
His departure became official on September 15.
Rowe said he did not make the decision lightly. He also highlighted his relationship with Sheeran and the opportunities he had received from working with him.
Despite that personal connection, Rowe chose to leave the tour after Macklemore’s removal.
His decision is especially relevant to fans attending upcoming U.S. concerts because he was among the performers connected with the replacement support arrangements following Macklemore’s departure.
That means older advertisements listing Rowe should not automatically be treated as current.
Lukas Graham also withdraws
Lukas Graham also announced that it would no longer appear on the tour.
The Danish group had been scheduled for upcoming performances alongside other support artists.
Its withdrawal came only hours after Sheeran publicly addressed the situation involving Macklemore.
Lukas Graham said it was difficult to watch people around the world experience war and loss. The group also expressed its view that musicians should be able to discuss humanitarian issues.
The announcement removed another major name from the remaining support lineup.
Fans who see Lukas Graham listed on older event pages should therefore check for a newer update before assuming the group will perform.
Finneas leaves upcoming tour dates
Finneas was another significant name connected with Sheeran’s 2026 touring plans.
He was not simply another U.S. stadium opener. His planned appearances were associated with later South American dates.
Finneas announced on September 15 that he would withdraw from his upcoming performances with Sheeran.
His statement said artists should not be silenced when they speak about oppressed people. He also expressed support for Palestinians.
His withdrawal means the lineup has changed beyond the immediate U.S. stadium schedule.
For fans tracking the entire 2026 LOOP Tour, Finneas is no longer part of the upcoming dates that had been planned for him.
Beoga leaves its role with Sheeran
Beoga’s departure is different from the other announcements.
The Irish traditional music group had been working with Sheeran as his touring band.
Beoga appeared during Sheeran’s performances and contributed to the live arrangements of songs performed during the show.
The group announced that it would also leave the tour.
That development could affect the structure of Sheeran’s live performances because Beoga was involved directly in the concert production rather than simply performing a short opening set.
The latest reports identify Beoga alongside Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Finneas as performers who withdrew following Macklemore’s removal.
Earlier U.S. opening acts included several artists
The 2026 U.S. tour did not have one permanent opening act.
Instead, Sheeran used different combinations of special guests throughout the stadium schedule.
The earlier U.S. lineup included artists such as Myles Smith, Sigrid, Aaron Rowe, Ellie Banke, Amble, Lukas Graham, BIIRD and Macklemore.
The exact combination depended on the city and date.
That is why fans searching online may encounter several different lists of performers.
Those lists can all be accurate for different concerts, but they do not necessarily represent the lineup for the remaining September, October and November dates.
Myles Smith was part of the summer schedule
Myles Smith was one of the most frequently featured support performers during the U.S. summer shows.
He joined Sheeran for several stadium concerts and performed before the main set.
His appearances covered multiple major American markets.
However, those performances were part of the completed summer schedule.
Myles Smith should not be treated as a confirmed opening act for the remaining fall U.S. concerts unless organizers announce a new appearance.
This distinction is important because older concert articles and ticket pages can remain visible in search results long after a particular date has passed.
Sigrid also appeared at several U.S. shows
Sigrid was another notable performer on the earlier U.S. schedule.
The Norwegian singer joined Sheeran for selected stadium dates during the summer.
She appeared alongside other support artists on several West Coast and other U.S. shows.
Her participation was tied to specific dates rather than the entire tour.
As a result, her name belongs among the confirmed 2026 U.S. support performers but not among the artists currently confirmed for the remaining fall dates.
Ellie Banke joined selected concerts
Ellie Banke also appeared during selected U.S. concerts.
Her involvement illustrates how Sheeran’s tour used a rotating support structure.
Different cities received different combinations of artists, giving fans in each market a slightly different opening lineup.
Banke performed on selected dates during the summer portion of the tour.
Those performances have already taken place, so they should not be confused with the current situation surrounding the remaining shows.
BIIRD was another support performer
BIIRD also appeared on selected dates during the North American run.
The artist was part of the rotating support lineup rather than a permanent opening performer.
This is another reason fans may find conflicting names when searching for Sheeran’s concert openers.
The lineup changed throughout the tour, and completed performances remain documented online even though those artists are no longer scheduled for the remaining shows.
What happened to the remaining U.S. lineup?
The biggest issue for fans now is the status of the remaining support performances.
Before the latest changes, Macklemore was scheduled for upcoming U.S. dates, with other performers connected to the remaining concerts.
Macklemore was then removed.
Rowe and Lukas Graham later withdrew.
That left the remaining U.S. support lineup without the artists originally promoted for several dates.
Finneas also withdrew, although his planned appearances were associated with later international shows.
Beoga’s departure added another change to Sheeran’s live performance setup.
At present, there is no confirmed replacement list that should be presented as official for the remaining U.S. shows.
Why some websites still show older names
Fans may notice that some venue websites and ticket pages still display earlier opening-act information.
This can happen when event pages have not yet been updated after a lineup change.
Ticketmaster currently lists Aaron Rowe, Myles Smith, Ellie Banke, Sigrid, Lukas Graham, BIIRD and Macklemore among the special guests for selected Sheeran dates.
However, several of those artists were connected with earlier shows, while the latest announcements changed the status of the performers scheduled for upcoming dates.
That makes the date-specific information especially important.
An older page should not automatically override a more recent artist announcement.
The next U.S. show is in Philadelphia
Sheeran’s next scheduled U.S. concert is September 19 in Philadelphia.
The show is scheduled for Lincoln Financial Field.
The Philadelphia event was originally promoted with support performers that included Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe.
Both artists have now announced that they are leaving the tour.
That means fans attending the Philadelphia concert should not assume those previously advertised performances will take place.
Any updated information from the venue or event organizer will be particularly important as the show approaches.
The remaining U.S. schedule
The LOOP Tour currently has several U.S. dates remaining after the September 19 Philadelphia concert.
The scheduled locations include:
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Arlington, Texas
- Hollywood, Florida
- Tampa, Florida
The final listed U.S. performance is scheduled for November 7 in Tampa.
The support lineup for these remaining concerts remains the key unanswered question following the departures.
Until organizers confirm replacements, it would be inaccurate to name artists who have not been officially announced.
What fans should check before attending
Concertgoers should review the latest event information before heading to the stadium.
The most reliable details can change quickly when support performers withdraw.
Fans should pay particular attention to updated venue information, ticketing details and official artist announcements.
Older promotional graphics may continue circulating online even after a performer has left the lineup.
Social media posts can also create confusion when they refer to earlier tour dates.
The date of the concert is therefore just as important as the artist’s name when searching for opening-act information.
The current picture for U.S. fans
The 2026 LOOP Tour began with a broad collection of support performers across different cities.
Myles Smith, Sigrid, Aaron Rowe, Ellie Banke, Amble, Lukas Graham, BIIRD and Macklemore were among the names associated with the North American shows.
The situation changed significantly in September.
Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. dates following the controversy surrounding his onstage political comments.
Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham then withdrew.
Finneas announced his departure from upcoming tour dates, while Beoga also left its role with Sheeran.
As of September 16, no replacement lineup has been confirmed for the remaining U.S. dates in the latest verified information.
That is the key update for fans currently searching for Ed Sheeran opening acts.
The names attached to older ticket pages may not reflect the lineup that will ultimately appear at each remaining concert.
For now, fans should rely on the newest confirmed announcements rather than older promotional material when planning their concert experience.
Have you seen a lineup update for an upcoming Ed Sheeran show? Share your latest concert information in the comments and stay tuned for confirmed updates.