Global Citizen NOW, the summit that drives action to end extreme poverty, returns to New York City for its fourth edition on Wednesday, April 30. Here’s everything you need to know.

This year’s Global Citizen NOW: Idea for Urgent Action will bring together 300 advocates, innovators, and creatives, alongside government and private sector leaders, to explore a critical question: “What does it mean to truly invest in the next generation?”

Performing at this summit is award-winning music artist, James Blake. His performance will energize this powerful gathering uniting leaders across government, private sector, public and creative sectors.

Building on its growing global footprint following the first-ever summits in Melbourne and Rio de Janeiro in 2024, Global Citizen NOW will once again serve as a platform where visionaries come together to inspire and catalyze immediate action.

Hosted by Global Citizen, the world’s leading international advocacy organization on a mission to end extreme poverty, Global Citizen NOW is the one and only place where top minds from the private sector, public sector, and creative industries come together to share tangible solutions for action today that will shape a better tomorrow. This year’s conversations will explore how we, as Global Citizens, can drive immediate and meaningful impact for future generations, particularly in education and sustainability.

Who will be there?

Co-chairs for this year’s summit include: Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government of Spain; Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, UNFPA; Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Nigeria; Hugh Jackman, Global Citizen Ambassador; Hans Vestberg, Chairman & CEO, Verizon; David Moinina Sengeh, Chief Minister of Sierra Leone; Rachel Brosnahan, Global Citizen Ambassador; Wyclef Jean, Performing Artist, Composer, Activist; André Corrêa do Lago, COP30 President-Designate; Nir Bar Dea, CEO, Bridgewater Associates; Amy Bonitatibus, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, PayPal; Patrick Achi, State Minister and Senior Advisor to the President, Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire; Alicia Tillman, Chief Marketing Officer, Delta Air Lines; and Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“Being part of Global Citizen NOW alongside so many visionaries, disruptors, and leaders is an incredible honor. This summit is all about transforming big ideas into real change by bringing together passionate, driven, and creative minds to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges,” said Rachel Brosnahan, Global Citizen Ambassador. “I’m thrilled to help spark conversations, celebrate the changemakers, and most importantly, drive meaningful impact for communities worldwide.”

Other influential leaders participating at the summit include Helder Barbalho, Governor of Pará, Brazil; Sônia Guajajara, Minister of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil; Francine Katsoudas, Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy and Purpose Officer, Cisco; Liza Koshy, Actor, Activist; Raj Kumar, President & Editor-in-Chief, Devex; Randall Lane, Chief Content Officer, Forbes Media; Nialé Kaba, Minister of Economy, Planning and Development of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire; Diego Scotti, General Manager, Consumer Group, PayPal; Ingrid Silva, Ballet Dancer, Choreographer, Writer, and Activist; Marcelo Thomé da Silva de Almeida, President, Instituto Amazônia+21; Jean Van Wetter, CEO, Enabel; and more.

“As our world faces compounding crises, inaction is not an option. Global Citizen NOW has been turning urgency into action since 2022 – bringing together leaders, advocates, and innovators who refuse to accept the status quo,” said Hugh Evans, Co-Founder & CEO, Global Citizen. “This summit isn’t just a conversation; it’s a platform for real commitments and solutions. While I’m incredibly proud of the global expansion of Global Citizen NOW, I’m especially excited for another edition of the summit that started it all — our flagship moment in New York City — where we continue to set the stage for bold action and lasting impact towards achieving our mission.”

That’s a powerhouse lineup of trailblazing leaders and changemakers you won’t want to miss. And it’s all made possible thanks to the support of Global Citizen NOW’s Major Partners Authentic Brands Group, Bridgewater Associates, Cisco, Delta Air Lines, PayPal, P&G and Verizon. Global Citizen is grateful for the support of leading media companies and supporters including: Captivate, Branded Cities and NYC Tourism + Conventions, who share a commitment to shaping a better future through education and sustainability.

Why Participate?

The 2025 edition of Global Citizen NOW will dive into what’s working, what’s not, and, most importantly, the urgent steps we must take NOW to build a more sustainable and equitable world. This dynamic one-day summit will feature transformative panel discussions, powerful performances from world-class artists, and networking opportunities with influential leaders across sectors. Participants can also expect major announcements about Global Citizen’s future campaigns, and much more.

The summit will also celebrate this year’s Global Citizen Prize winners, recognizing five young leaders for their extraordinary work in ending extreme poverty and driving social change in their communities. The Global Citizen Prize 2025 awardees are: 

• Valeriia Rachynska, Director of Human Rights, Gender and Community Development, 100% Life from Ukraine;
• Taily Terena, Anthropologist, Earth and Climate Defender, Institute of Indigenous Memory and Science, from Brazil;
• Omowumi Ogunrotimi, Founder & Executive Lead, Gender Mobile Initiative, from Nigeria; and
• Lydia Kekeli Amenyaglo, Creative Director, Ghana Food Movement, from Ghana

“These remarkable leaders are driving progress on some of the most urgent issues of our time – they’re defending human rights, transforming food systems, and fighting for a brighter future for their communities,” said Liza Henshaw, President, Global Citizen. “Each of them brings bold vision and deep commitment to their work, and we’re proud to amplify their extraordinary efforts and support the growth of their organizations.”

Additionally, the Cisco Youth Leadership Award which recognizes an individual aged 18-30 for their meaningful contribution to solving global problems using technology, as well as their commitment to advancing the United Nations Global Goals will be presented to one of these five Global Citizen Prize Winners.

“At Cisco, putting purpose into practice means we often see the unlock that technology can bring to communities,” said Fran Katsoudas, EVP and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer, Cisco. “Esther's agritech solutions are making big strides in eradicating world hunger, with a ripple effect that is positively impacting thousands across Kenya. Farmer Lifeline Technologies brings innovation into some of the most foundational parts of our communities, and we at Cisco are proud to help Esther in her vision for a sustainable future.”

This year’s Cisco Youth Leadership Award recipient is Esther Kimani, a 29-year-old Kenyan innovator transforming the agricultural landscape through AI-driven solutions. Raised on the slopes of Kenya’s Aberdare Mountains, Esther witnessed firsthand how pests, diseases, and extreme climate conditions devastated crops, stripped entire communities of their livelihoods and deepened poverty for rural farmers. As Founder & CEO of Farmer Lifeline Technologies, she developed a tool that helps smallholder farmers detect pests and diseases early, safeguard their harvests. Her technology is deployed across seven counties in Kenya, supporting thousands of farmers – 65% of them women – and ensuring they have the resources to sustain their farms and families. As the Cisco Youth Leadership Award Winner, Farmer Lifeline Technologies will receive a US$250,000 grant to scale their impact even further.

How Can I Be a Part of This?

Global Citizen NOW will be held at Spring Studios in New York City, with a limited number of tickets available for purchase at globalcitizen.org/now/nyc.

Stay tuned for additional details in the coming weeks. You can learn more about Global Citizen NOW and find out more about how you can get involved by visiting our FAQs page. Don’t forget to follow Global Citizen on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok to stay updated.

Here is a full list of participants for Global Citizen NOW New York 2025.

• Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations; Sarah, Duchess of York 
• Ashlyn Harris, Host of Wide Open Podcast, Creative Consultant, Entrepreneur & Retired Professional Athlete
• Bill Nye, Science Educator and Global Citizen Ambassador 
• Diego Scotti, General Manager, Consumer Group, PayPal
• Francine Katsoudas, Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy and Purpose Officer, Cisco
• Françoise Remarck, Minister of Culture and Francophonie, Republic of Côte d'Ivoire 
• Gargee Ghosh, President of Global Policy & Advocacy at the Gates Foundation
• Helder Barbalho, Governor of Pará, Brazil 
• Helena Gualinga, Indigenous Environmental and Human Rights Defender
• H.E. Philip Thigo, MBS, Special Envoy for Technology, Republic of Kenya
• Ingrid Silva, Ballet Dancer, Choreographer, Writer, and Activist
• José Manuel Barroso, Professor, Chair of Gavi Board
• James Blake, Artist
• Jean Van Wetter, CEO, Enabel
• Laverne Cox, Emmy-nominated Actor, Producer, Advocate
• Nialé Kaba, Minister of Economy, Planning and Development of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire
• Keili Glynn, Chief People Officer, Authentic Brands Group
• Katie Nolan, Emmy-winning Sports Commentator and Host of SiriusXM podcast ‘Casuals’
• Laverne Cox, Emmy-nominated Actor, Producer, Advocate
• Liza Koshy, Actor, Activist
• Marcelo Thomé da Silva de Almeida, President, Instituto Amazônia+21
• Michele Anthony, Executive Vice President, Universal Musical Group
• Mia Keeys, Director of Global Health & Innovation, Hologic
• Raj Kumar, President & Editor-in-Chief, Devex
• Randall Lane, Chief Content Officer, Forbes Media
• Seu Jorge, Actor, Composer & Performer
• Sônia Guajajara, Minister of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil; Sabrina Dhowre Elba, Activist, CEO, Global Citizen Europe Chair, and UN Goodwill Ambassador for IFAD 
• Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary, UN Climate Change
• Shain Shapiro, Executive Director, Center for Music Ecosystems
• Tati Gabrielle, Actor, Producer, and Advocate
• Zachary Pozniak, Author of ‘The Laundry Book’ and Owner, Jeeves New York