Global Citizen has announced the performers for its annual festival, which will once again take over Central Park with a star-studded lineup.
Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean (celebrating the 30th anniversary of Fugees’ album The Score), Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey and Tomorrow x Together will take the stage at the 2026 Global Citizen Festival, set for Sept. 26. Hugh Jackman will host the event, which will feature appearances by Rachel Brosnahan, Gayle King, and more to be announced in the coming weeks.
Global Citizen is the world’s largest movement to end extreme poverty, and this year’s festival will target three core issues of poverty: creating opportunities for 2 million children to go to school, supporting 1.5 million smallholder farmers and providing electricity for 2.5 million homes.
“I believe all of us can do something to make the world a better place, so I’m proud to be performing at the Global Citizen Festival for the first time,” Wilson said in a statement. “It’s a chance to come together and support important work around children’s education, farmers and food security, and access to electricity — and have a whole lot of fun while we’re at it. Can’t wait to see y’all in Central Park!”
Jackman, a Global Citizen ambassador, added, “It’s time to gather once again on the Great Lawn, in the middle of New York City, to tell the world an end to extreme poverty is possible. There’s something every one of us can do to change the world, and what better way to participate than by taking action with Global Citizen, earning those points, and celebrating with a day of music and advocacy to close out the summer. See you there!”
Tickets to the event are free, and can be earned by taking action on these issues on the Global Citizen app or website.
“Over the last 30 years, the world has made extraordinary progress toward ending extreme poverty. In 1990, around 2.3 billion people were living in extreme poverty. Today, that number has fallen to around 830 million, or roughly one in 10 people globally. That didn’t happen by accident. It happened because leaders invested in people and communities, businesses stepped up, and citizens demanded action,” said Hugh Evans, co-founder and CEO of Global Citizen. “The lesson is that extreme poverty can be defeated, and that progress is a choice. The question facing us and our leaders today is simple: will we be the generation that finishes the job, or the generation that allows decades of progress to unravel?”
