Global Citizen Festival 2025 [photos + review]

Photos + Article by Sachyn Mital

With Shakira basically ending the 2025 Global Citizen Festival with “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” was very fitting. The annual free festival, held in New York City’s Central Park, requires attendees to take actions on their platform to earn a chance for tickets. Many of the actions to get into the festival this year were to encourage governments (and educate citizens) to provide clean, renewable energy for people in Africa.

The show opened with Hugh Jackman dancing and drumming alongside NYC’s Fogo Azul before kicking over to Palestinian-Chilean artist Elyanna. Throughout the rest of the evening speakers noted the generous commitments and donations organizations made towards climate resilience (deforestation prevention) and educational endeavors while musical performers were interspersed.

Cardi B showcased songs from her newly released album Am I the Drama? alongside her baby-bump, while Tyla performed her smash hits “Water” and “Truth or Dare”. Later, after her own set, Nigeria’s Ayra Starr surprised the crowd when she brought out Rema to collaborate on his song “Calm Down”.

The musical highlights had to be Shakira’s set of hits (including “Whenever, Wherever” and “Hips Don’t Lie”) and Blackpink’s ROSÉ making her first solo festival performance with a cabaret style set featuring her smash “APT” and a cover of The Cranberries’ “Linger”.

Check out some photos from the 2025 Global Citizen Festival below.