Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean Headline a Star-Studded Global Citizen Festival
On September 26, 2026, Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean will headline the Global Citizen Festival, bringing music, culture and global advocacy together in the heart of New York City. The performance will mark the 30th anniversary of the Fugees’ landmark album The Score, adding a nostalgic cultural moment to an event designed to drive action on some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
They’ll be joined by an equally star-powered lineup featuring John Legend, Lenny Kravitz, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, with Hugh Jackman returning as host. Additional artists and special guests are expected to be announced ahead of the festival.
The annual festival has built its identity around turning celebrity attention into advocacy and financial commitments. This year, Global Citizen is focusing its campaign on education and children’s well-being, food security and access to clean energy.
Among its goals, the organization is seeking to mobilize $100 million to support 2 million children through education, school meals, health services and related programs. Another $100 million is being targeted to support approximately 1.5 million smallholder farmers, particularly across Africa and the Brazilian Amazon. Global Citizen is also working to help mobilize $1.5 billion for clean-energy access, with the goal of powering millions of homes in vulnerable communities.
Rather than relying exclusively on traditional ticket sales, Global Citizen allows fans to earn opportunities to attend by completing advocacy actions through its platform. Those actions can include signing petitions, contacting decision-makers, volunteering and supporting campaigns connected to the festival’s priorities.
For 2026, attendees may also have access to a charitable-donation pathway after completing qualifying advocacy actions. Donations associated with select tickets will benefit the City Parks Foundation and organizations supporting New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. Paid general-admission and VIP experiences are also available.
The corporate community is playing a visible role as well. Cisco is presenting the 2026 festival, with partners including Delta Air Lines, MetLife, PayPal, P&G, Bridgewater Associates and Authentic Brands Group. The combination underscores what has become one of Global Citizen’s signatures: bringing together entertainment, business, philanthropy and government around shared social-impact goals.
Held during the broader period surrounding the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the festival also gives Global Citizen a strategic platform to press world leaders, corporations and philanthropists for concrete commitments.
Yes, there will be famous names, major performances and memorable fashion. But behind the stage lights is a deliberate effort to transform attention into action—and demonstrate that a night in Central Park can be about much more than who has the best seat.
Global Citizen Festival 2026 takes place Saturday, September 26, on the Great Lawn in Central Park, New York City.
Want to attend the event? Go to Party With Purpose Event Listing for details on how you can attend.