Ed Sheeran faces potential concert cancellations at Robert Kraft’s Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, as a severe nor’easter storm bears down on New England. Production crews paused stage construction on Thursday, September 24, 2026, as venue officials weighed whether to dismantle the open-air setup ahead of heavy winds and rain slated to begin Friday night.
Storm Threat Looms Over Foxborough
Production teams assembled the stage at Gillette Stadium on Thursday morning, but higher-ups ordered a work stoppage by Thursday evening. Weather forecasts project heavy winds and several inches of rain starting Friday night, creating hazardous conditions for open-air concertgoers and structural risks for the stage.
Production Paused Amid Heavy Forecasts
A stadium production source indicated that lighting tests remained underway late Thursday just in case Friday’s show could proceed, though no final cancellation or rescheduling decision had been finalized by Thursday evening.
This impending weather disruption coincides with intense political and logistical turbulence surrounding the tour. Earlier in the week, promoter pressure led to the removal of opening act Macklemore following controversial remarks at a prior concert stop.
Regulatory Scrutiny Hits Ticketmaster
While weather threatens the physical shows, ticketing disputes and political fallout have already drawn regulatory scrutiny. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell stated Thursday that nearly 200 consumers filed complaints regarding difficulties obtaining refunds through Ticketmaster.
The refund requests stem from fan anger over Macklemore’s removal rather than the weather threat. The Massachusetts Peace Action advocacy group had planned protests for the second night of the Gillette Stadium run following Macklemore’s onstage “Free Palestine” declarations at earlier tour stops.
Artists Withdraw and Fans Rally
Following Kraft’s pressure to drop Macklemore, all remaining opening acts—including Finneas, Myles Smith, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, and Beoga—withdrew from the remaining North American dates. During his solo performance in Philadelphia last weekend, Sheeran appeared emotional taking the stage alone with his guitar.
Opening act Myles Smith publicly defended Sheeran on social media amid the backlash, writing that Sheeran was neither a victim nor a perpetrator, but a real friend caught in industry pressures. While some ticket holders sought refunds or voiced criticism over neutrality, substantial fan communities rallied behind Sheeran online, arguing he should not bear responsibility for promoter decisions or geopolitical flashpoints.
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