Ed Sheeran has just picked up an unexpected new title in Queensland, and it is not another chart milestone.
Ahead of three sold-out Brisbane shows at Suncorp Stadium as part of his Australian Loop Tour, the global superstar made a surprise, unannounced visit to Ipswich, Queensland. What started as a quick pop-in turned into a full-blown local moment, complete with a signed mural, a city-wide celebration, and a ceremonial promotion into local “government”.
The centrepiece of the visit was a mural painted by Brisbane artist Duncan Mattocks, commissioned by Warner Music Australia last September to celebrate Sheeran’s eighth studio album, PLAY. The mural has been more than just a splash of colour on a wall. It became the cornerstone of a ten-month community push with one very clear goal, summed up in the campaign’s name, “Get Ed to Ipswich”.
And the city did not do things by halves.
Championed by Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding, the campaign gathered momentum through local businesses, schools, and everyday residents who rallied together to encourage Sheeran to make the trip. Ipswich got creative along the way, with a local bakery producing a “Ginger-Ed” cookie, and the local pub launching a custom beer dubbed the “Ed Beeran Brew”.
When Sheeran finally arrived and signed the mural, the moment was instantly treated like a landmark occasion. The mural, now celebrated as a local Ipswich attraction, also came with an equally memorable one-liner from Sheeran, who reportedly said, “There’s a new mayor in town.”
It was a playful line, but the city leaned into the joke in the most official way possible.
To commemorate the visit, Mayor Teresa Harding presented Sheeran with the official mayoral chains of office at Suncorp Stadium and named him honorary co-mayor of Ipswich. Harding described the moment as a chance to thank him for showing up and for giving Ipswich a story that locals will be talking about for a long time.
“It was a wonderful moment to be able to thank him for noticing our city, for making the trip, and for giving Ipswich a moment we’ll be talking about for a long time,” Harding said after presenting the chains.
It is the kind of civic celebration that feels uniquely Queensland. Part tongue-in-cheek, part genuinely heartfelt, and completely powered by community spirit.
For Ipswich, it was a win for local pride, and proof that a campaign built on enthusiasm and small-town creativity can actually land the biggest name in the world on your doorstep. For Sheeran, it was a reminder that even a packed tour schedule can still have room for a spontaneous detour, especially when an entire city has been cheering you on for months.
As for what comes next for Ipswich’s newest honorary co-mayor, that is anyone’s guess. But with the mural now signed, the mayoral chains presented, and the “Get Ed to Ipswich” mission officially accomplished, one thing is already locked in.
Ipswich got its moment, and it sounds like the city made sure Ed Sheeran will never forget it.
