 Wembley Arena in February 2007 | |
| Location | Wembley, Greater London, England |
|---|---|
| Venue | Wembley Arena |
| Date | 17 September 2025 (2025-09-17) |
| Attendance | 12,500 |
| Website | Official website |
Together for Palestine was abenefit concert that took place on 17 September 2025 atWembley Arena inWembley, England. The fundraiser was organized by British artistBrian Eno. The event aimed to raise funds and awareness for Palestinian civilians affected by the ongoingconflict in Gaza, with all proceeds from ticket sales, merchandise, and donations going to Palestinian-led organizations. The funds were distributed through the UK-based charityChoose Love, which works with partner groups on the ground, including thePalestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF), thePalestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS), and Taawon.
The event sought to highlight Palestinian art and culture, featuring a stage design byEs Devlin in collaboration with Gazan painterMalak Mattar, and showcasing the work of other Palestinian visual artists. The show was produced by Eno, film producerTracey Seaward, actorKhalid Abdalla, and London-Palestine Film Festival founder Khaled Ziada.
The concert featured performances and speeches 69 artists, actors, activists, and cultural figures, drawing an audience of approximately 12,500 people and livestreaming to over 200,000 viewers worldwide. It raised£1,500,000 (US$2,000,000).
British artist Brian Eno was the concert's lead organizer.[1] Eno, film producerTracey Seaward, actorKhalid Abdalla, and London-Palestine Film Festival founder Khaled Ziada produced the show.[2] English stage designerEs Devlin and Gazan painterMalak Mattar collaborated on the show's stage design, showcasing the work of Palestinian visual artists.[3][4] Eno described the 1988Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert, also held at Wembley Arena, as an inspiration for the concert.[5]
The concert faced a series of logistical and reputational challenges. Eno wrote that simply mentioning "Palestine" led venues to refuse bookings, making it difficult to secure a site until Wembley ultimately agreed.[6] Similar hesitation extended to distribution: YouTube only "finally consented" to stream the event, and Eno indicated there was an inflection point when artists agreed to appear, suggesting earlier reluctance amid political sensitivities.[6] The concert took 18 months to organize.[7]
Funds raised by the concert will be distributed byChoose Love to organizations including Taawon,Palestine Children's Relief Fund, and Palestine Medical Relief Service.[8] Tickets for the 12,500-capacity event sold out within hours, with an official online stream also made available, with reports of over 200,000 viewers.[9] By the end of the night, it was announced that£1,500,000 (US$2,000,000) had been raised through ticket sales, merchandise sales, and donations.[10][11]
The four-hour event combined live music, speeches, poetry readings, and pre-recorded messages from 69 musicians, artists, and activists.[12] Performers includedBastille,James Blake,Paloma Faith, andJamie xx, alongside Palestinian artists such asSama’ Abdulhadi,Saint Levant, andElyanna.[8] Notable speakers included actorsFlorence Pugh,Nicola Coughlan, andBenedict Cumberbatch, as well as broadcasterMehdi Hasan, footballerEric Cantona, and UN special rapporteurFrancesca Albanese.[13][14] Several speakers emphasized the urgency of the humanitarian crisis and criticized celebrity silence about the war.[8][15]
The production also foregrounded Palestinian art and literature. The set featured works by eight Palestinian artists killed by Israeli forces during theconflict.[16] Brian Eno read the poem "Oh rascal children of Gaza" by Palestinian writerKhaled Juma.[17][18]
The following guests and artists has made appearance and performed at the show:[19]
The London Standard gave the concert 4 out of 5 stars, particularly praising the performance of Palestinian artists and noting "in a situation that has felt increasingly irredeemable, Together For Palestine provided a vital beacon of hope."[22] Shaad D'Souza ofPitchfork wrote that unlike other benefit concerts, "no attempts were made to act like we are not living in desolate times." He described the concert as "bittersweet" yet hopeful, noting that protests have failed to change theUnited Kingdom's support for Israel during the war.[18]
NME praised the event as a powerful, well-orchestrated act of solidarity that “blended art, advocacy, and fundraising,” highlighting the nearly £1.5 million raised for Palestinian-led groups. The outlet emphasized moving performances from Palestinian artists alongside star turns byDamon Albarn, Brian Eno, andYasiin Bey, and lauded speeches that kept focus on Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.[23] Ammar Kalia ofThe Guardian also highlighted "the breadth and depth of Palestinian artistry on display," emphasizing how the event centered on cultural expression.[24]
Writing forThe Times, Stephen Dalton wrote that the show was "impressively polished and sumptuously mounted" and "In pleasing contrast to charity gigs in bygone decades, Palestinian voices were central to this event."[25] Gabriele Malvisi ofArab News called the show "a powerful testament to the strength of non-violent resistance in an era where brute force is deployed in the name of the few and language is increasingly weaponized to sow division and discord."[26] Writing forThe Independent, Adam White stated that the show "holds an undeniable power, fuelled by grief, celebration, and a bittersweet sense that this all should have happened far sooner."[21]
