The lineup for the 2026 Global Citizen Festival has been revealed, with Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Lenny Kravitz, Lainey Wilson, John Legend, Shaboozey and TOMORROW X TOGETHER among the artists set to perform in New York City this fall.
The annual festival will return to Central Park’s Great Lawn on Saturday, September 26. Hugh Jackman will host the event, while Rachel Brosnahan and Gayle King are also expected to make appearances. Global Citizen says additional artists and special guests will be announced in the coming weeks.
Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean to Celebrate 30 Years of The Score
One of the biggest moments of the 2026 Global Citizen Festival will come from Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, who will reunite to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Fugees’ acclaimed album “The Score.”
Released in 1996, “The Score” became a defining album of its era and produced hits including “Killing Me Softly,” “Ready or Not” and “Fu-Gee-La.” The upcoming performance gives fans a chance to see Hill and Jean revisit music that helped cement the Fugees’ place in hip-hop history.
The duo will be joined on the lineup by Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey and South Korean boy band TOMORROW X TOGETHER.
The diverse bill brings together artists from different corners of music, giving the festival a mix of hip-hop, rock, R&B, country and K-pop.
Lainey Wilson Makes Her Global Citizen Festival Debut
For Lainey Wilson, the event will mark her first performance at the Global Citizen Festival. The country star said she is excited to use the platform to support causes focused on children’s education, food security and access to electricity.
“I believe all of us can do something to make the world a better place,” 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.”
Wilson’s appearance adds a country music presence to a lineup that already spans several major genres.
Hugh Jackman Returns as Host
Hugh Jackman is set to host the 2026 Global Citizen Festival, continuing his relationship with the organization as a Global Citizen Ambassador.
The actor said the festival will bring thousands of people together in Central Park to show that ending extreme poverty remains possible.
“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,” Jackman said in a statement.
Rachel Brosnahan and Gayle King are also scheduled to appear, with more celebrity guests expected to be revealed ahead of the festival.
Fans Have to Take Action to Get Tickets
Unlike a conventional music festival, tickets to the 2026 Global Citizen Festival cannot simply be purchased. Fans must first take action on issues highlighted by Global Citizen through the organization’s website or app.
Participants can complete action journeys and earn points that can then be used to enter a free ticket lottery.
For 2026, Global Citizen is also introducing another way to secure admission. After completing the required action journey and earning enough points, fans can make a $25 charitable donation to instantly secure a ticket, while the limited allocation remains available.
The donation does not replace the action requirement. Fans must complete their action journey before they can access the $25 option.
According to Global Citizen, funds from the donations will support City Parks Foundation’s free programming and community engagement initiatives across New York City, along with organizations helping people experiencing homelessness.
The 2026 Campaign Targets Three Global Issues
So you want to come to #GlobalCitizenFestival in Central Park on Sept. 26? Here’s how to get your tickets! 🎟️
1️⃣ Take action & earn FREE tickets: Download the Global Citizen app, take action, earn points, and redeem them for your chance to attend for free!
2️⃣ Donate & secure… pic.twitter.com/G3xM08HBpn— Global Citizen ⭕ (@GlblCtzn) August 13, 2026
The 2026 Global Citizen Festival will also serve as a platform for the organization’s campaign against extreme poverty, with three central goals for this year.
Global Citizen is seeking to create opportunities for 2 million children to attend school, support 1.5 million smallholder farmers and help provide electricity to 2.5 million homes.
The education campaign is calling for $100 million in combined commitments from governments, businesses and philanthropists to support programs providing children with access to education, school meals, health care and sports.
Another $100 million goal is focused on smallholder farmers across Africa and the Brazilian Amazon, with funding intended to improve access to seeds, tools and financing while strengthening food security.
The final campaign centers on electricity access, particularly clean energy and microgrids in vulnerable communities and small island nations across the Indo-Pacific.
The Festival Returns to Central Park in September
The announcement makes the 2026 Global Citizen Festival one of the major music events to watch in New York City this fall. With Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean marking 30 years of The Score and performances from Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, the festival has assembled a lineup designed to appeal across generations and genres.
The 2026 Global Citizen Festival will take place September 26 on Central Park’s Great Lawn. More performers and special guests are expected to be announced before the event.
For fans who want to be there, the path to the festival starts well before the music begins: take action, earn points and work toward a spot on the Great Lawn.
Featured image: Rosanna Elettra/Jaeger-LeCoultre
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