Global Citizen Festival is returning to Central Park this weekend—and it’s bringing major star power with it.
The 2025 Global Citizen Festival will take over Central Park’s Great Lawn on Saturday, September 27, with co-headlining performances by Shakira and Cardi B, plus sets by Tyla, Ayra Starr, Mariah the Scientist, and more.
The music festival isn’t just about chart-topping performances, though—it’s a global movement. Run by the international advocacy organization Global Citizen, the annual event aims to inspire action to end extreme poverty, tackle climate change, and support sustainable development around the world.
Longtime Global Citizen Ambassador Hugh Jackman is back to host the event, marking his 11th year on the stage. Plus, the team behind the festival revealed that Bill Nye, Adam Lambert, Danai Gurira, and Liza Koshy will cohost and Kristen Bell, Tony Goldwyn, Laurie Hernandez, Nate Burleson, and Vladimir Duthiers will speak.
“It’s an honor to be an Ambassador for this growing movement as we take action to protect the Amazon, support children’s literacy, scale renewable energy in Africa, and mobilize New Yorkers to volunteer,” Lambert said in a statement.
Happening annually since 2012, the festival has become one of NYC’s most anticipated fall events, welcoming performers like Beyoncé, Coldplay, Rihanna, and Billie Eilish over the years—helping drive billions in global aid and policy commitments along the way.
How to earn free tickets to Global Citizen Festival
As always, tickets to the festival are totally free—but you’ll have to earn them by taking action.
Through the Global Citizen app or website, New Yorkers can complete simple advocacy tasks like signing petitions, sharing messages, or volunteering with local organizations.
Each action earns you points that go toward entering ticket lotteries.
For 2025, the campaign is focused on three core goals:
- Providing energy access for 1 million people across Africa
- Mobilizing $200 million to protect 30 million hectares of the Amazon rainforest
- Giving 30,000 children worldwide access to quality education and football (in partnership with FIFA)
There’s also a local angle: the initiative will support nonprofits across NYC’s five boroughs and aims to register 40,000 New Yorkers for volunteer opportunities in areas like youth mentorship, resume coaching, and neighborhood revitalization.
Global Citizen Festival 2025 fast facts
🗓️ Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
📍 Location: Central Park’s Great Lawn
🎶 Headliners: The Weeknd, Shakira, Tyla, Ayra Starr, Mariah the Scientist
🎤 Host: Hugh Jackman
🎟️ Tickets: Free — earn them by taking action at globalcitizenfestival.com or through the Global Citizen app