Ed Sheeran Announces 18-Month Hiatus From Live Shows

Ed Sheeran is taking a break from touring for “18 months.”

The 28-year-old musician wrapped up his lengthy Divide Tour with a show in Chantry Park, Ipswich, on Monday (August 26, 2019), and has said the performance not only marked the last gig of the tour, but also his last for the next year and a half, as he plans to take a break.

Speaking on stage, he said: “As you may or not know, I’ve been on the Divide tour for over two years now and this is the last day of the whole thing.

Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Awards 2019 - Arrivals — Ed Sheeran attends the Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Awards 2019 at the Grosvenor House on July 05, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

“There is something very bittersweet about it. I love that you guys are here and we are ending it in Ipswich. This is my last gig for probably 18 months.”

The singer has played to around nine million people on his extensive tour – which was recently named the biggest tour ever – and Ed likened the end of the chapter to “breaking up with a girlfriend”.

He added: “We’ve played all around the world. Glastonbury, Wembley Stadium. All these amazing venues, America, New Zealand, Australia, Asia, South America – it’s been a wild one.

Yesterday Special Screening In Gorleston — Ed Sheeran attends special screening of Yesterday on June 21, 2019 in Gorleston-on-Sea, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Universal Pictures International)

“It’s been an emotional day for a lot of people backstage. It kind of feels like, in a weird way, that you’re breaking up with a girlfriend that you’ve been with for years.

“It sounds odd but it has been a long tour.”

Ed then took a moment to thank his fans for “giving [him] a chance”.

He later posted a goodbye on his Instagram:

9 million people, 893 days, 46 countries, 175 cities, 260 shows, 268 touring crew, 193265 miles travelled, 2 broken arms, 3 marriages, 4 babies. What a wild ride this Divide tour has been. The whole process of writing the album starting in 2015, then recording it in 2016, promoting it, setting out on the road to play it for all of you guys. It’s so weird to put it to bed and move on. Thank you to everyone involved in this whole Divide process, all the people who helped make the album, all the people who helped promote the album, all the fans who listened and came to watch, this wouldn’t be possible without you. Most of all I want to thank my fantastic touring team, who have given up their lives for 2 and a half years to help me achieve my dreams. Thank you for all of your hard work and constant friendship. The Divide tour – 2017 -2019. Officially the biggest tour of all time, so weird to say that, and we survived it !
Ed Sheeran

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9 million people, 893 days, 46 countries, 175 cities, 260 shows, 268 touring crew, 193265 miles travelled, 2 broken arms, 3 marriages, 4 babies. What a wild ride this Divide tour has been. The whole process of writing the album starting in 2015, then recording it in 2016, promoting it, setting out on the road to play it for all of you guys. It’s so weird to put it to bed and move on. Thank you to everyone involved in this whole Divide process, all the people who helped make the album, all the people who helped promote the album, all the fans who listened and came to watch, this wouldn’t be possible without you. Most of all I want to thank my fantastic touring team, who have given up their lives for 2 and a half years to help me achieve my dreams. Thank you for all of your hard work and constant friendship. The Divide tour – 2017 -2019. Officially the biggest tour of all time, so weird to say that, and we survived it !

A post shared by Ed Sheeran (@teddysphotos) on Aug 28, 2019 at 8:47am PDT