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New York’s favorite do-good block party is back—and this year it’s pulling out all the stops. The 2025 Global Citizen Festival will take over Central Park’s Great Lawn on Saturday, September 27, bringing its signature mashup of music, activism and star power. Headliners The Weeknd and Shakira were already reason enough to camp out on the app for tickets, but now the supporting cast has been revealed, and it’s a proper who’s-who of pop culture.
Co-hosting duties will be split between Bill Nye, Adam Lambert, Danai Gurira and Liza Koshy—basically the dream dinner party you didn’t know you needed. On the speaker side, expect appearances from Kristen Bell, Tony Goldwyn, gymnast Laurie Hernandez, TV personalities Nate Burleson and Vladimir Duthiers, plus a roster of global activists you’ll want to follow the second they step off stage. Colombian hitmaker Camilo is also joining the music lineup, ready to bring some Latin pop sparkle to a night already stacked with heavy hitters.
But this isn’t just about star-spotting. Global Citizen is using its massive platform to rally $200 million in commitments—think protecting 74 million acres of the Amazon rainforest, expanding education for 30,000 kids with FIFA’s help and providing energy access for 1 million people across Africa. In New York, the campaign has a hands-on twist: two “volunteer days” leading up to the festival. On September 13, locals can help The Bowery Mission serve meals to those living in poverty, and on September 19, a beach cleanup at Canarsie Pier will tidy up NYC’s shoreline. (Bonus: Participants earn tickets to the fest).
There’s also a historic first this year: The festival will open with a land-honoring ceremony and Global Powwow led by Solstice Unites, a ceremonial movement spotlighting Indigenous voices. The moment will pass the torch to leaders in Brazil ahead of the next Global Citizen Festival: Amazônia, set for Belém in November.
Tickets, as always, are free, but you’ve got to earn them by taking action through the Global Citizen app or website. For those who prefer their activism from the couch, the festival will stream live worldwide on YouTube, Apple Music, Twitch, Prime Video, iHeartRadio and more. But let’s be real: If you can score a spot on the Great Lawn this September, you’ll be part of the loudest—and possibly most fun—call to action in the city.