Ed Sheeran has announced that he will be extending his +–=÷× tour to include a surprise string of European gigs to coincide with his forthcoming album Subtract.
The 32-year-old singer announced his latest shows just three weeks ahead of their March 23 deadline at Manchester’s AO Arena, with demand expected to be high.
His final night in the stage takes place at Paris’ Accor Arena on April 2, a month before his next LP arrives on May 5.
He will then be back on the road for his pre-scheduled concerts in North America, which will end at the end of September.
Subtract, out May 5, is the finale in a decade-long math series that follows 2021’s Equals, 2017’s Divide, 2014’s Multiply and 2011’s Plus.
Before tickets go on sale, here’s everything you need to know.
Ed Sheeran’s 2023 tour: When are UK dates? How can I get tickets? Everything you need to know when the singer announces surprise appearances at the arena (pictured in 2021)
Last minute! The 32-year-old singer announced his latest shows just three weeks ahead of schedule at the AO Arena in Manchester on March 23, with demand expected to be high (pictured in 2022).
Where can I get tickets?
Dedicated fans can gain access to pre-sale tickets by pre-ordering Ed’s Subtract album before 9am Tuesday, March 7th from his official website.
After that, tickets will go on sale on Friday, March 10th at 9am via Ticketmaster.
When does he appear?
The dates are as follows:
Ed Sheeran’s European tour dates
Thursday 23 March – Manchester, AO Arena
Friday 24th March – London, The O2 Arena
Saturday 25 March – London, The O2 Arena
Tuesday 28th March – Glasgow, Hydro Arena
Thursday 30th March – Dublin, 3Arena
Sunday April 2nd – Paris, Accor Arena
how much will they cost
Ticket fees are yet to be announced, but his 2021 performances in London cost around £50-80 and £45-75 elsewhere in the country.
Who is the support act?
Irish singer Cian Ducrot found success with his 2022 tracks “I’ll Be Waiting” and “All for You” with Ella Henderson.
Both peaked in the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart.
What do we know about his new album?
Ed announced the release of his sixth studio album, Subtract, in an Instagram post on Wednesday, explaining that it was inspired by the personal tragedies he faced.
The Castle On The Hill songeter revealed his wife Cherry was diagnosed with a tumor while she was pregnant with their second child.
Talented: His last night in the leg will be at Paris’ Accor Arena on April 2, a month before his next LP arrives on May 5 (pictured 2021).
The couple welcomed daughter Jupiter in May 2022 and are also parents to two-year-old Lyra Antarctica.
The singer and his childhood sweetheart kept the pregnancy a secret, but he has now revealed the couple were plagued by “anxiety, depression and anxiety” because Cherry was diagnosed with a tumor that she could not have treated until after she was born.
Ed explained that he struggled with his mental health last year as he tried to come to terms with his wife’s health struggles and grieved the loss of his best friend Jamal Edwards.
Jamal, a music producer and son of Loose Women star Brenda Edwards, tragically died in February 2022 after suffering a cardiac arrest caused by cocaine use and alcohol consumption.
He wrote: “I worked on Subtract for a decade, trying to shape the perfect acoustic album, writing and recording hundreds of songs with a clear idea of how I wanted it to be.
“In early 2022, a series of events changed my life, my mental health and ultimately the way I viewed music and art.
“Writing songs is my therapy. It helps me understand my feelings. I wrote without thinking about what the songs would be, I just wrote whatever came to my mind. And in just over a week, I’ve replaced a decade’s work with my deepest, darkest thoughts.
Support act: Irish singer Cian Ducrot found success with his 2022 tracks ‘I’ll Be Waiting’ and ‘All for You’ with Ella Henderson
“Within a month my pregnant wife was told she had a tumor and there was no avenue of treatment until after the birth.
“My best friend Jamal, a brother of mine, died suddenly and I found myself in court defending my integrity and career as a songwriter.
“I was spiraling through anxiety, depression and anxiety. I felt like I was drowning, head below the surface, looking up but unable to catch my breath.
“As an artist, I didn’t feel I could credibly bring out a work that didn’t accurately represent where I am and how I need to express myself at this point in my life.”
Ed continued, “This album is exactly that. It opens the trapdoor into my soul. For the first time I’m not trying to make an album that people will like, I’m just releasing something that is honest and true to where I am in my adult life.
“This is the diary entry from last February and my way of understanding it. That’s subtraction.’
The singer did not provide any further information on his wife’s health. Web contacted Ed’s representatives for further comment.
Exciting: Ed announced the release of his sixth studio album Subtract in an Instagram post on Wednesday, explaining that it was inspired by the personal tragedies he faced