Plot Synopsis

Each year since 2012, Global Citizen has hosted GLOBAL CITIZEN FESTIVAL, a free-ticketed concert on The Great Lawn in NYC's Central Park, to raise awareness and money to help the organization end extreme poverty worldwide. The inaugural concert was broadcast live by fuse, Palladia and AXS TV, featuring performances by headliner Neil Young and Crazy Horse, the Black Keys, Foo Fighters and Band of Horses and a pre-show that included Minka Kelly, Katie Couric, and NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The following year, Palladia telecast GLOBAL CITIZENS FESTIVAL 2013 live -- and fuse livestreamed the event on fuse.tv with a two-hour highlght show the following day on its linear channel -- with performances by Kings of Leon, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Elvis Costello and John Mayer. In 2014, MSNBC became the broadcast partner -- with NBC News preparing a one-hour special for same-day primetime TV on NBC -- for an event with music from JAY Z, No Doubt, Carrie Underwood, fun., The Roots, and Tiesto.

The GLOBAL CITIZEN FESTIVAL 2021 kicked off on Saturday, September 25 at 2pm ET/11am PT, with live concerts happening at The Great Lawn, in New York's Central Park, and at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Performers include (by location): New York (Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Camila Cabello, Jennifer Lopez, Lizzo, Meek Mill, and Shawn Mendes; special guest performances by Alessia Cara, Burna Boy, Cyndi Lauper, Jon Batiste, and Lang Lang; and appearances by Amber Ruffin, Andy Cohen, Billy Porter, Bonang Matheba, Bridget Moynahan, Connie Britton, Deborra-lee Furness, Desus Nice and The Kid Mero, Dikembe Mutombo, Katie Holmes, Nomzamo Mbatha, Padma Lakshmi, Rachel Brosnahan, Skip Marley, and Tan France, presented by Citi and Cisco); Los Angeles (Stevie Wonder, Adam Lambert, Chloe x Halle, Demi Lovato, H.E.R., Migos, ONEREPUBLIC, Ozuna, The Lumineers, and 5 Seconds of Summer; and appearances by JoJo, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michaela Jae Rodriguez, Maggie Q, and Scott Evans, presented by Verizon); and Paris (Ed Sheeran, Elton John, Black Eyed Peas, Christine and the Queens, Doja Cat, and Maneskin; special guest performances by Angelique Kidjo, Charlie Puth, and Fatma Said; hosted by Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Denis Brogniart; and appearances by Carmen Ejogo and Drew McIntyre); London (Duran Duran, Kylie Minogue, Nile Rodgers and Chic, and Rag'n'Bone Man); Lagos (Femi Kuti, Davido, Tiwa Savage, and Made Kuti; and appearances by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and Nancy Isime); Rio de Janeiro (Alok, Criolo, Liniker, Mart'nalia, Mapu, Aldeia Mutum of the Yawanawa, and Owera (Kunumi MC); with special guests Tropkillaz and Mosquito; and an appearance by Dede Teicher, in partnership with Rock In Rio); Sydney (Delta Goodrem; and appearances by Celeste Barber and Cathy Freeman); Mumbai (Ajay-Atul, Badshah featuring Aastha Gill, Amit Trivedi, Tanishk Bagchi, Zara Khan, Nikhita Gandhi, and Yasser Desai; and an appearance by Anil Kapoor, in partnership with Wizcraft); and from sound stages from around the world (Andrea Bocelli from Tuscany, BTS from Seoul, Green Day from Los Angeles, Keith Urban and Ricky Martin from various locations in Las Vegas, Lorde and My Morning Jacket from various locations in New York City, Metallica from Louisville, Sho Madjozi and Muzi from Johannesburg and, in partnership with Sony Music Latin, Camilo from Madrid and Lali from Buenos Aires); The event was broadcast live on ABC News Live on September 25, 2021, beginning at 12:30pm ET/9:30am PT. The following day -- Sunday, September 26 -- FX broadcast a four-hour program (3-7pm ET/PT) and ABC aired a one-hour highlights show (7-8pm ET/PT.)

In 2022, GLOBAL CITIZEN FESTIVAL: TAKE ACTION NOW premiered on Saturday, September 24 on ABC News Live, with a compilation special on Sunday, September 25 on FX (5-7pm ET/PT) and ABC (7-8pm ET/PT). Hosted by Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Danai Gurira, with appearances by Hugh Jackman, Billy Porter, Chris Martin, Connie Britton and Rachel Brosnahan. Global Citizen Festival: Accra features performances by Usher, SZA, Stormzy, Gyakie, Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, TEMS and Uncle Waffles. Presenters will include Berla Mundi, Joselyn Dumas, Michaela Coel, Nomzamo Mbatha and Sabrina Dhowre Elba. Global Citizen Festival: NYC features performances by Metallica, Charlie Puth, Jonas Brothers, MANESKIN, Mariah Carey, Mickey Guyton and Rosalia with special guest performances by Angelique Kidjo and Billy Porter. Presenters will include Amber Ruffin, Antoni Porowski, Bill Nye, Chris Redd, Connie Britton, Folake Olowofoyeku, Jay Shetty, Katie Couric, Katie Holmes, Misty Copeland, Rachel Brosnahan, Scott Evans, Sofia Carson, Tamron Hall and Van Jones.
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The 2023 GLOBAL CITIZEN FESTIVAL took place on Saturday, September 23, 2023 in NYC's Central Park. The festival was streamed live on Global Citizen's website and numerous platforms, including Amazon's Prime Video, Apple TV, Hulu Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. A one-hour highlight special debuted on ABC the following day on Sunday, September 24 at 7pm ET/PT. As usual, the event provided free tickets in exchange for fans taking actions for social change on the group's app and website, related to initiatives like the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities in the Global South, tackling gender inequities, combating the global hunger crisis, and advocating for the protection and defense of vulnerable populations.
Performances by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Jung Kook, Anitta, Conan Gray, D-Nice, Sofia Carson, and 3RACHA. Speakers included Bill Nye the Science Guy, Common, Padma Lakshmi, Carmelo Anthony, and more.