Macklemore, the Seattle rapper behind “Thrift Shop” and “Can’t Hold Us”, closes a three-city European run of benefit concerts for Palestinian causes at OVO Arena Wembley.
Macklemore, the Grammy-winning rapper from Seattle, brings the Free Palestine Tour to OVO Arena Wembley on Friday 30 October 2026. The night closes a three-city European run of benefit concerts.
He was born Benjamin Haggerty in 1983 and raised in the city’s Capitol Hill neighbourhood. He was writing lyrics at fifteen and put out his first mixtape as Professor Macklemore in 2000.
In 2009 he formed a partnership with the producer Ryan Lewis. Their single “Thrift Shop” became the first self-released song in 11 years to top the American Hot 100, and “Can’t Hold Us” followed it to number one. Their album The Heist won Best Rap Album in 2014.
He has since recorded alone. In 2024 he released “Hind’s Hall”, a protest song whose proceeds went to UNRWA, and this tour gives its proceeds in the same way.
At Wembley he shares the stage with artists and friends in a programme centred on Palestine and Palestinians. All proceeds go to 12 organisations working in medical care, humanitarian aid, education and advocacy. Among them are Medical Aid for Palestinians, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and UNRWA USA.