Fez — Organizers confirmed that The Weeknd has pulled out of this year’s edition for personal reasons, replaced by Cardi B to keep the lineup’s momentum intact. The change follows a busy month for the Bronx rapper and positions her as a co-headliner.
The 2025 festival—hosted by actor Hugh Jackman—now features performances by Shakira, Cardi B, Tyla, Ayra Starr, Mariah the Scientist, Camilo, and Elyanna, with the show set for Saturday, September 27, in Central Park. The event will stream globally across major platforms, extending its reach well beyond the in-person audience. Free tickets can be won on the Global Citizen app rather than traditional sales – an initiative the organization has used to spur public engagement with anti-poverty campaigns.
For Elyanna—the festival’s only Arab act announced so far—the booking caps a year of high-profile stages and expands her U.S. exposure alongside Latin pop and Afrobeats heavyweights. Sharing a bill with Shakira and Cardi B places the trilingual performer in one of the fall’s most visible showcases, underscoring the festival’s global remit and growing representation of Middle Eastern voices in mainstream lineups.
Beyond the music, Global Citizen will frame the night around pledges and policy wins. This year’s campaign seeks commitments toward clean energy access in Africa, funding for Amazon rainforest protection, and additional support for children’s education programs.
Cardi B’s addition arrives days after her sophomore album rollout, which has fueled headlines and broadened the setlist. For Shakira, whose 2025 tour has driven robust ticket sales,the Central Park slot offers a televised New York moment between stadium dates. With Afrobeats breakouts Tyla and Ayra Starr, R&B singer-songwriter Mariah the Scientist, and Colombian star Camilo rounding out the card, the bill blends established headliners with fast-rising names.
Gates are scheduled to open mid-afternoon, with the show running into the evening, and those unable to attend can follow the livestream from home. For Elyanna, the festival stands as a gateway to wider North American audiences—and, for Global Citizen, as another test of music’s ability to convert attention into tangible commitments.
