Global Citizen Festival 2025 Secures Major Pledges

The 13th annual Global Citizen Festival returned to Central Park’s Great Lawn on Sept. 28, 2025, drawing more than 60,000 attendees and a star-studded lineup headlined by Shakira and Cardi B with performances from Tyla, Ayra Starr, Mariah the Scientist, Rema and ROSÉ. Organizers said the event surpassed fundraising and commitment targets, announcing pledges to bring clean energy to roughly 4.6 million homes in Africa and to protect large swaths of the Amazon. Major funding announcements included more than $638 million from the European Commission for climate-friendly energy, a $250 million pledge from Energea, and over $30 million pledged to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. The festival, held at the end of U.N. General Assembly high-level meetings and hosted by Hugh Jackman alongside Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans, paired performances with calls for governments and corporations to convert commitments into policy and investment. Cultural moments and fashion headlines during performances underscored the event’s mix of entertainment and activism.