ISLAMABAD: Tens of thousands gathered in Central Park for the 2025 Global Citizen Festival, an event that merged live music with activism aimed at ending extreme poverty and addressing climate change.

Approximately 60,000 people attended the six-hour concert on the Great Lawn, according to their official website.

Unique model of earning tickets
Organized by the Global Citizen, an advocacy platform committed to defeating poverty, taking care of the planet and promoting equality, the festival employed a unique model to earn tickets – by engaging in social action.

Participants took steps such as signing petitions, volunteering, and advocating for policy changes. According to the Global Citizen, over 40,000 New York City residents registered to volunteer in their communities ahead of the event.

Star-studded lineup
The event featured a diverse range of artists featuring international stars with Shakira and Cardi B as headliners. Other performers included Tyla, Ayra Starr, Maria the Scientist, Camilo, Elyanna, and special guest Rose.

Cardi B performs during the Global Citizen Festival on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP)

The Weeknd had been originally slated to headline but withdrew later, allowing Cardi B to join the lineup.

Hugh Jackman hosted the festival for the 11th year in a row, supported by co-hosts Adam Lambert, Bill Nye, Danai Gurira, and Liza Koshy.

Campaign priorities and global impact
The 2025 campaign focused on three key objectives: providing energy access to one million people across Africa, raising $200 million to protect the Amazon rainforest, and delivering quality education to 30,000 children globally.

Hugh Evans, Global Citizen’s co-founder and CEO, announced an ambitious plan to raise the first $30 million for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to educate 100,000 children ahead of the next FIFA World Cup final.

Hugh Jackman speaks during the Global Citizen Festival on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP)

Jackman told the audience that every action, whether signing petitions or cleaning beaches, contributes meaningfully to global progress. “Tonight is the proof of it,” he said.
Adam Lambert praised attendees for their dedication, describing their involvement as “something beyond themselves” poised to create a ripple effect of social change.

The festival continued despite previous criticism after heavy rain in 2023 caused extensive damage to the Great Lawn.

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Shakira, Cardi B lead star lineup at Global Citizen fest