Entertainment briefing

Nor'easter cancels Ed Sheeran's Gillette Stadium shows and Global Citizen Festival for the first time in its history

The nor'easter pounding the Northeast wiped out a weekend of major live music: both of Ed Sheeran's Gillette Stadium concerts, New York's Global Citizen Festival in Central Park — canceled for the first time in 14 years — and several other festivals from New York to Maryland.

By US Brief desk · Updated 2026-09-26T17:43:00-07:00

Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts (file photo)

Editor’s note: Cancellations and refund details follow AP, Deadline, CBS New York, USA Today and Global Citizen's statement, Sep 25–26, 2026. Refund and rescheduling policies differ by event; readers should check the promoter or ticketing platform. The storm itself is covered in US Brief's US News desk; this piece covers only entertainment impacts. The Macklemore background is from earlier AP and USA Today reporting.

The nor'easter that has battered the East Coast this weekend has also shut down some of the biggest concerts on the fall calendar.

What happened: Promoter Messina Touring canceled both of Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, set for Friday, Sep 25, and Saturday, Sep 26, AP reported, because of the storm. Refunds are available to ticket holders.

Global Citizen goes dark: In New York, the Global Citizen Festival on Central Park's Great Lawn, scheduled for Saturday, was canceled for the first time in the event's 14-year history, according to Deadline and CBS New York. Hugh Jackman was set to host a lineup that included Ms. Lauryn Hill with Wyclef Jean, Alicia Keys, Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey and TXT. In its statement announcing the cancellation, Global Citizen noted it had already secured nearly $210 million in commitments this year for its antipoverty campaigns.

Other casualties: Organizers also canceled the CBGB festival in New York, which had been set to feature Morrissey and Patti Smith; the All Things Go festival, whose bill included Zara Larsson, Lola Young, Brandi Carlile and Carly Rae Jepsen; and Maryland's Oceans Calling festival.

Background on the Sheeran shows: The Gillette dates were already in the news. Macklemore was dropped from the Loop Tour after pro-Palestinian remarks at a Sep 5 show in New Jersey, following urging from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Kraft and Sheeran each pledged $2 million to charity, and Macklemore said he would donate $1 million.

Why it matters: Outdoor stadium and festival shows are costly to cancel and hit artists, vendors and local economies, and travelers who booked hotels and flights around the shows.

Uncertainty: No makeup dates had been announced for the Sheeran shows or the festivals at drafting. Refund timelines vary by vendor.

What's next: Watch for rescheduling announcements from Messina Touring and the festival organizers, and for whether Global Citizen moves any planned pledges to a virtual or later event.

Method note: US Brief digests are AI-assisted from the US Brief desk. We synthesize reputable reporting with cited sources; we do not invent quotes, figures, or forecasts.

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Nor'easter cancels Ed Sheeran's Gillette Stadium shows and Global Citizen Festival for the first time in its history

The nor'easter pounding the Northeast wiped out a weekend of major live music: both of Ed Sheeran's Gillette Stadium concerts, New York's Global Citizen Festival in Central Park — canceled for the first time in 14 years — and several other festivals from New York to Maryland.

By US Brief desk · Updated 2026-09-26T17:43:00-07:00

AI-assisted digests from the US Brief desk. Synthesizes reputable reporting with cited sources; not a wire service. Corrections welcomed.

Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts (file photo)

The nor'easter that has battered the East Coast this weekend has also shut down some of the biggest concerts on the fall calendar.

What happened: Promoter Messina Touring canceled both of Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, set for Friday, Sep 25, and Saturday, Sep 26, AP reported, because of the storm. Refunds are available to ticket holders.

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