Ed Sheeran canceled his back-to-back Gillette Stadium concerts in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Friday, September 25, 2026, as a powerful nor’easter threatened New England with hurricane-force winds and severe coastal flooding, capping a turbulent week of tour controversies and ticket refund disputes.
The Loop Tour performances, originally scheduled for Friday, September 25, and Saturday, September 26, were officially called off after venue and tour management consulted with local public safety officials. Messina Touring Group issued a statement confirming the cancellation due to the severe weather warnings in place in Boston and across New England throughout the weekend.
Nor’easter Threat Forces Gillette Stadium Cancellation
Production insiders at Gillette Stadium had already halted stage construction on Thursday as weather disruptions intensified across the Northeast. Executives weighed dismantling the partially built stage before the incoming storm battered the outdoor venue with heavy rain and dangerous wind gusts.
“Due to the severe weather warnings in place in Boston and New England throughout the weekend and following consultation with local officials, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Ed Sheeran concerts at Gillette Stadium. The decision was made with the safety of fans, staff and everyone involved in the shows as the top priority.”
Messina Touring Group
Attorney General Intervention Secures Ticketmaster Refunds
The weather cancellation brings a sudden end to days of consumer friction and public scrutiny surrounding the Foxborough stadium dates. Earlier in the week, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell intervened after receiving nearly 200 consumer complaints from ticket holders who struggled to obtain refunds following major lineup changes.
The dispute began when rapper Macklemore was removed as an opening act from the remaining U.S. dates of Sheeran’s tour following pro-Palestinian remarks and a performance of his protest song Hind’s Hall
during his set at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft subsequently confirmed that Macklemore would not be permitted to perform at his venue due to concerns from members of the Jewish community and a history of inflammatory rhetoric, while Messina Touring Group stated that multiple venues refused to host shows with the rapper on the bill.
In response to Macklemore’s removal, all other support acts and Sheeran’s backing band withdrew from the tour. Campbell sent a formal letter to Ticketmaster arguing that changing nearly all performing acts simultaneously constituted a dramatic service alteration that made standard no-refund policies unfair under the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act. Ticketmaster subsequently agreed to honor refund requests.
“After hearing from nearly 200 consumers who were struggling to obtain refunds from Ticketmaster for Ed Sheeran’s shows at Gillette Stadium this weekend, my office jumped into action to demand that consumers be provided a clear path to get their money back if they no longer want to attend due to significant changes to the lineup.”
Andrea Joy Campbell, Massachusetts Attorney General
With the concerts now officially called off, Ticketmaster purchasers will receive automatic refunds without needing to meet earlier customer service deadlines, while buyers through other points of purchase can request refunds directly.
Fallout and Tour Continuation
Sheeran addressed the intense public scrutiny during his solo set in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field, telling the audience he never wanted to be an activist musician but had been thrust into a passionate debate over free speech. Meanwhile, Macklemore announced a separate international run titled the Free Palestine Tour, featuring dates in Dublin, Paris, and London throughout October, with proceeds earmarked for Palestinian aid organizations.
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