Gorillaz Open 2026 North American Tour, Damon Albarn Raises Palestinian Flag Onstage
Gorillaz launched their 2026 North American tour on Thursday, September 17, at the Kia Center in Orlando with a 24-song set. Mid-show, frontman Damon Albarn took a Palestinian flag from a fan in the crowd and raised it above his head, telling the audience: "Don't ever be neutral." He also urged fans not to forget the issue and to "stand your ground." According to NME, footage of the moment was filmed by attendees and circulated on social media.
Orlando opening night details
- Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
- Venue: Kia Center, Orlando
- Setlist length: 24 songs
- Material drawn from: the self-titled debut album, Plastic Beach, Demon Days, Humanz, and the new album The Mountain
Coming after Macklemore's removal from Ed Sheeran's tour
The moment lands at a time when artists' onstage political statements are under close scrutiny. Macklemore, opening for Ed Sheeran on tour, had made pro-Palestinian remarks that drew calls for his removal from figures including Pink and the Israeli American Council; he was subsequently dropped from the tour. Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft later confirmed he considered the remarks "offensive to the Jewish community" and that this led to Macklemore's removal. Ed Sheeran responded that he was "not complicit," saying he was shocked by the Israel-Palestine conflict and viewed the suffering on both sides as a tragedy.
A UN inquiry commission found in September 2025 that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a conclusion also reached by Amnesty International. Israel denies committing genocide or war crimes, maintaining its military campaign is self-defense against the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023, and has called the UN findings distorted.
Albarn's history of speaking out
Albarn has repeatedly addressed the Palestinian issue in recent years. He has told Channel 4 News that he has "in some way been paying attention to Palestine" for a long time, and that the key point is not denying Palestinian legitimacy and historical presence, while acknowledging the genocide taking place there.
Last September, he took part in the Together For Palestine show curated by Brian Eno in London, performing a suite of traditional Palestinian songs with the London Arab Orchestra and Juzour Dance Collective; Gorillaz's performance of "Damascus" that night later appeared on The Mountain. In June of the same year, the band's Primavera Sound set was introduced by Palestinian activist Aarab Barghouti, who spoke onstage about his father, imprisoned Palestinian political figure Marwan Barghouti.