With just a month to go until the 2024 Global Citizen Festival, the excitement is ramping up as Benson Boone and RAYE join an already electrifying line-up, including headliners Post Malone, Doja Cat, LISA, Jelly Roll, and Rauw Alejandro.
English songwriter and solo artist RAYE just broke records by winning six BRIT awards in a single year in 2024. Benson Boone, a rising singer-songwriter with numerous successful singles like “Beautiful Things,” says “Ending extreme poverty is a responsibility we all share. I’m grateful to be involved in Global Citizen's mission by helping those who are living in extreme poverty. I hope we can all come together to take action and make a real difference in the world.”
The festival, hosted by the one and only Hugh Jackman, will feature special appearances by the legendary Dr. Jane Goodall and Coldplay’s Chris Martin. Expect an all-star roster of presenters gracing Central Park’s Great Lawn on September 28, including Antoni Porowski, Bill Nye, Bridget Moynahan, Charlamagne Tha God, Danai Gurira, Eric Adjepong, Gavin DeGraw, Jordan Fisher, Kal Penn, Liza Koshy, Doctor Mike Varshavski, Nomzamo Mbatha, Osi Umenyiora, Rachel Brosnahan, Rhett & Link, Sophia Bush, and Vladimir Duthiers.
This year, the Global Citizen Festival is taking a monumental step in sustainability. For the first time, the Central Park stage will be entirely powered by a SmartGrid battery system, the same innovative technology used on Coldplay’s ‘Music of the Spheres’ tour. In partnership with Showpower Global B.V., CES Power, and Equitable Earth, this switch from diesel generators to clean battery power will dramatically reduce the festival’s carbon footprint, making it one of the first major U.S. festivals to embrace this eco-friendly approach.
Kicking off Climate Week, we are organizing a beach cleanup on Saturday, September 21, in collaboration with the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy and supported by Goodera. Coinciding with International Coastal Cleanup Day, this initiative offers a hands-on way to defend the planet and help protect New York City’s coastline. Global Citizens who participate can earn free festival tickets while removing and documenting a ‘Dirty Dozen” of the most common trash items found along the shores. The marine debris cleanup is supported by the American Littoral Society’s NY State Beach Cleanup Program, Black Surfing Association, and Surfrider NYC.
Climate change is a leading driver of extreme poverty and could push an additional 100 million people into poverty by 2030. This year, the Global Citizen Festival is spotlighting the Amazon rainforest, one of the planet’s greatest allies in the fight against climate change. At present, the Amazon has the ability to offset 12 years of global emissions, which is equivalent to what is emitted annually by 40,000 coal power plants.
In partnership with Re:wild, UN Global Compact Network Brazil, and other campaign allies, we are calling for $1 billion in investments by 2025 to protect and restore the Amazon. This funding will support the Indigenous and riverfront communities safeguarding this vital ecosystem. Closer to home, we are urging New York Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the TREES Act, making New York the first U.S. state to prevent public funds from contributing to tropical deforestation.
Additionally, we are championing the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, advocating for a fair, fast, and fully funded fossil-fuel phase-out. By joining forces with 13 nations, hundreds of businesses, including 17 banks, over 100 cities, thousands of civil society groups, and scientists, we are pushing for a global commitment to a just transition from coal, oil, and gas. Together, we can build a greener, safer future for everyone.
“Global Citizen Festival has always been about using the power of music and activism to drive real, tangible change. This year, we're taking bold steps to protect our planet, from powering our stage with clean energy to advocating for Indigenous-led projects that preserve the Amazon and calling for a global Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty,” said Michael Sheldrick, Co-Founder & Chief Policy, Impact and Government Affairs Officer, Global Citizen. “These efforts are about ensuring that the transition to a sustainable future leaves no one behind – whether it's communities in the Global South or right here in New York. We’re calling on world leaders, businesses, and citizens alike to join us in mobilizing action towards a just transition to clean energy and a safer planet for all.”
And don’t forget — official 2024 Global Citizen Festival merchandise is now available! This year’s responsibly sourced collection features exclusive collaborations with Doja Cat, Rauw Alejandro, Aviator Nation, and more. Get yours here!
The Global Citizen Festival is proudly presented by Citi and Cisco, with major partners including Bridgewater Associates, Delta Air Lines, Motsepe Foundation, PayPal and Venmo, P&G, Verizon, and World Wide Technology. Our production partners are Live Nation, Broadcast Partner ABC, Exclusive U.S. Audio Partner iHeartMedia, and Location Partner New York City Parks. The 2024 Global Citizen Festival is produced by Emmy Award-winning production companies Done and Dusted and Diversified Production Services.
For all the latest updates, visit globalcitizenfestival.com, download the Global Citizen app, and follow Global Citizen on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Don’t miss out — be part of the change!