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Hip hop legend Ms. Lauryn Hill and Haitian-born rapper and musician Wyclef Jean are set to headline the 2026 Global Citizen Festival, bringing the celebrated Fugees collaborators together once again for one of New York City’s major music and advocacy events.
The festival will take place on September 26 at the Great Lawn in Central Park, coinciding with the closing period of the United Nations General Assembly’s annual high-level meetings. Organizers use the event to combine major musical performances with campaigns urging governments and global institutions to increase support for initiatives addressing poverty, education, food security and clean energy.
Hill and Jean will be joined by a diverse lineup that includes rock star Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, country singer Lainey Wilson, Grammy-winning artist Shaboozey and K-pop group TOMORROW X TOGETHER. Actor Hugh Jackman will host the festival, with Rachel Brosnahan and Gayle King also scheduled to make appearances.
The appearance comes at a particularly significant moment for Hill and Jean, who have recently reunited on stages around the world to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Fugees’ landmark album The Score.
The pair recently performed together in Rio de Janeiro, where they headlined Global Citizen Live as part of Rio Nature & Climate Week. Their 2026 performances have also included appearances connected to Hill’s Diaspora Calling! festival in the United Kingdom, which celebrates music and culture across the African diaspora.
Their return to the Global Citizen stage also has a New York connection. Hill previously appeared at the organization’s Central Park festival in 2023, when she co-headlined the event and celebrated the 25th anniversary of her acclaimed solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. She and the Fugees also made a surprise appearance at a Global Citizen event in 2021.
Beyond the entertainment, this year’s festival will focus on several ambitious development targets. Global Citizen says it wants to help create educational opportunities for 2 million children, improve food security for 1.5 million smallholder farmers and mobilize US$1.5 billion for clean-energy expansion in the Indo-Pacific region.
The organization is also seeking to build on the momentum generated by its involvement in the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s inaugural halftime show, which helped raise more than US$60 million for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
Admission to the Central Park festival will remain tied to Global Citizen’s advocacy model. Fans can enter the free ticket lottery by completing actions through the Global Citizen platform, while a US$25 charitable donation will provide automatic entry. Proceeds from those donations will support New York’s City Parks Foundation and organizations assisting people experiencing homelessness.
Global Citizen co-founder Hugh Evans said the organization hopes the 2026 lineup will broaden the festival’s audience, particularly through the addition of country performers such as Wilson and Shaboozey.
With Hill and Jean at the forefront, however, the festival will also carry a strong connection to Caribbean and African-diaspora culture. Their longstanding musical partnership, coupled with their recent return to the stage, gives the New York event an added cultural significance as the two prepare to bring The Score era and their wider artistic legacy to another global audience.
English (US) ·