Ed Sheeran opener contest goes viral as Guitar Center where the prize is opening for Ed Sheeran

Guitar Center’s competition offering musicians the chance to open for Ed Sheeran is real, despite speculation that the promotion was created in response to the turmoil surrounding his LOOP TOUR.

The competition, called "Open for Legends", gives an undiscovered musician the opportunity to perform before Sheeran at his Mexico City show on December 11, 2026. Guitar Center describes it as a programme designed to support amateur, unsigned and independent musicians. Applicants must be at least 18, hold a valid US passport, have live performance experience and submit original music or material they have the rights to use. Audition videos cannot exceed five minutes, while bands can have up to five members.

The promotion attracted renewed attention after Macklemore was removed from Sheeran’s remaining US tour dates following comments supporting Palestinians during his September performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Sheeran said the decision came from promoters and venues rather than himself. Four other support acts, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga, subsequently withdrew from the tour.

That timing led online users to treat the Guitar Center contest as a potential search for replacement support. However, recent reports say the competition had been developed before the Macklemore controversy, meaning its existence was not originally connected to the departures.

The public audition page then became a source of further controversy after users submitted political messages, memes and other material unrelated to musical auditions. Guitar Center confirmed that some submissions were not legitimate applications and said they would not be considered. The company said the programme was intended to remain focused on musicians seeking to showcase their talent.

The official competition remains open, with Guitar Center currently listing submissions as due by October 8 at 3:59am UTC. The eventual winner will receive the opportunity to perform at Sheeran’s Mexico City concert, giving the promotion a genuine music industry opportunity despite its unusually timed arrival in the middle of the LOOP TOUR controversy.