Two sold-out Ed Sheeran concerts at Massachusetts’ Gillette Stadium were canceled hours before the weekend shows; the venue cited severe nor’easter warnings, with fans promised refunds as the storm threatened New England

Ed Sheeran’s two sold-out concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, were canceled just hours before the scheduled performances as a powerful nor’easter threatened New England. The cancellation was reported by the BBC, CBS Boston and Boston 25 News, with the venue and tour promoter pointing to severe weather conditions and safety concerns. The shows, scheduled for Friday, September 25, and Saturday, September 26, were part of Sheeran’s ongoing Loop Tour. Both dates were listed as canceled on Ticketmaster, with the concerts originally scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.The decision came as a major fall nor’easter moved toward the region, bringing the threat of heavy rain, strong winds, coastal flooding and rough surf across parts of New England. Local weather warnings remained in effect through the weekend, prompting concerns about travel as well as conditions at the outdoor stadium.Gillette Stadium said the decision followed consultations with local officials, the promoter and the tour. The venue said safety was the priority and confirmed that refunds would be available through the original point of purchase. Fans who bought their tickets through Ticketmaster were set to receive automatic refunds.The abrupt cancellation marked another disruption for Sheeran’s US tour, which has already faced significant attention in recent weeks over the removal of rapper Macklemore as an opening act.Macklemore had performed on earlier dates of the tour while making outspoken comments supporting Palestinians and calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and operator of Gillette Stadium, had objected to Macklemore’s appearances following those comments. The rapper was subsequently removed from the remaining tour dates, with the promoter saying venue owners would not allow him to perform. Sheeran has said the decision was made by his promoter rather than by him.The controversy also prompted several artists connected with the tour to withdraw. Sheeran returned to the stage in Philadelphia on September 19 with a new backing lineup and addressed the turmoil surrounding the tour. The Massachusetts shows were therefore already among the most closely watched dates on the Loop Tour. Their cancellation, however, was officially attributed to the weather rather than the earlier dispute.For ticket holders, the immediate concern was whether they would be able to recover the money spent on the canceled performances. The stadium confirmed that refunds were available, while Ticketmaster’s event listings now show both September 25 and September 26 performances as canceled.Sheeran’s next listed US performances are scheduled to continue in October, with dates at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on October 3 and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on October 10.