The Global Citizen Festival returned to Central Park’s Great Lawn on Sept. 26, 2026, drawing a crowd to a free concert built around a campaign to fight extreme poverty. Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean headlined a bill that marked the 30th anniversary of the Fugees’ album “The Score.” Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson and Shaboozey also performed, along with the K-pop group Tomorrow X Together.
Alicia Keys and Victoria Monet joined the lineup for the New York edition, part of a roster that reached across pop, hip-hop, country and R&B. Hugh Jackman hosted the event for a 12th consecutive year, with actor Rachel Brosnahan and CBS anchor Gayle King among those who appeared between sets. The mix of genres reflected the festival’s aim of pulling a broad audience toward its cause, and the Fugees reunion set gave the night a nostalgic centerpiece as Hill and Jean revisited songs from the 1996 album.
The festival, organized by the advocacy group Global Citizen, tied attendance to activism. Fans earned free tickets by completing actions through the organization’s app, such as contacting officials or signing petitions. Organizers added an option for 2026 that let attendees secure entry with a $25 donation, with proceeds directed to City Parks Foundation programs across the city’s five boroughs and to groups assisting unhoused New Yorkers.
Organizers used the stage to press a set of measurable goals. The campaign called for expanding education access for 2 million children, strengthening food security for 1.5 million small farmers and bringing electricity to 2.5 million homes. It set funding targets of $100 million each for the education and farming efforts, and $1.5 billion for clean energy projects in Pacific island nations that face rising seas.
“Extreme poverty can be defeated, and that progress is a choice,” said Hugh Evans, the group’s chief executive, in remarks tied to the event. The festival has staged concerts in New York and other cities since 2012, using large musical bills to draw attention to global development targets. Commitments announced from the stage are tracked by the organization over the year that follows each edition.
