The Global Citizen benefit concert is a massive music festival and advocacy event organized by the international advocacy organization Global Citizen. The goal of the event is to unite world leaders, major corporations, philanthropists, and citizens in an effort to end extreme poverty by 2030. The festival features major musical acts and guest appearances by celebrities and world leaders to draw attention to issues like inequality, climate change, education, healthcare, sanitation, and sustainability. Global Citizen distributes free tickets to supporters who take actions like calling their elected leaders, tweeting at decision makers, and signing petitions. The concert provides an energetic setting to celebrate these actions while encouraging more engagement.
When and where is the Global Citizen festival held?
The inaugural Global Citizen festival was held on September 29, 2012 in New York City’s Central Park. It has expanded over the years into an annual event known as the Global Citizen Festival. The 2022 Global Citizen Festival will mark the 10th anniversary of the movement and will be held on September 24, 2022 at the Great Lawn in Central Park in New York City. There have also been international editions of the festival held in locations like Hamburg, Germany, Mumbai, India, and Johannesburg, South Africa to coincide with major international events like the G20 summit, the United Nations General Assembly, and the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos.
Who performs at the Global Citizen Festival?
The Global Citizen Festival has featured performances from major artists across genres like pop, rock, R&B, and hip hop. Past headliners have included Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, Foo Fighters, Beyoncé, Pearl Jam, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Green Day, Pharrell Williams, Big Sean, and Metallica. The 2022 lineup includes Mariah Carey, Jonas Brothers, Charlie Puth, Måneskin, Mickey Guyton, and Rosalía as headliners. Special guest performers have also included people like John Legend, Demi Lovato, The Chainsmokers, and Usher. The festivals bring together a diverse musical lineup to appeal to a wide audience.
| Year | Location | Headliners |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | New York City | Neil Young, Foo Fighters, The Black Keys, John Legend |
| 2013 | New York City | Stevie Wonder, Kings of Leon, Alicia Keys |
| 2014 | New York City | Jay Z, No Doubt, Carrie Underwood |
| 2015 | New York City, London | Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé, Pearl Jam, Coldplay |
What is the purpose of the Global Citizen Festival?
The Global Citizen Festival aims to use the power and draw of music to motivate fans to take action against extreme poverty. While enjoying the concert, attendees become aware of issues facing the world’s poorest people and are encouraged to call on corporations and governments to enact change. For instance, concertgoers may learn that 130 million girls do not have access to education and are driven to petition leaders to address this. By bringing together advocates, decision makers, and influential supporters, the festival provides a platform to effectively campaign for development goals.
How does Global Citizen distribute tickets?
Tickets to the Global Citizen Festival are earned, not bought. Fans visit Global Citizen’s website to take actions like sending emails, making calls, signing petitions, and sharing content on social media. After taking a sufficient number of actions, they earn free entry to the festival. This unique ticketing system helps drive activism by directly linking advocacy to experiences like getting to see top musical acts perform. According to Global Citizen, over 2 million actions were taken in 2022 leading up to the festival. High demand and limited space mean fans need to be proactive in taking actions early to guarantee tickets.
What impact has the Global Citizen Festival had?
Since its inception, the Global Citizen Festival has aimed to secure commitments from leaders totaling $100 billion towards ending extreme poverty. According to Global Citizen, over the first ten years, the movement has resulted in:$42 billion raised for climate, food security, and global health efforts; 227 million trees planted; 2.25 billion vaccines donated; and $11.5 billion to empower girls’ education. Corporate participation has also grown. In 2022, major multi-year pledges were made by companies like Lego, P&G, and Verizon as well as a vaccine dose match from the U.S. Government. While enormous work remains, the festival represents a powerful mechanism for driving financial commitments.
Key Global Citizen Festival Impact Statistics:
- $42 billion raised for global causes
- 227 million trees planted
- 2.25 billion vaccines donated
- $11.5 billion pledged for girls’ education
What are some key moments in Global Citizen Festival history?
Some standout moments from Global Citizen Festival history include:
- In 2016, Rihanna headlined the festival in New York City for the first time and gave a powerful speech on education.
- In 2018, Janet Jackson made a surprise guest appearance that blew away the crowd.
- In 2019, Queen + Adam Lambert opened the show with an iconic performance in Central Park.
- In 2021, Billie Eilish and Camila Cabello joined Coldplay to sing Fix You together.
- In 2022, Michell Obama made an appearance encouraging fans to use their voices.
These memorable performances combined with appearances by high-profile activists, politicians, Nobel laureates, and thought leaders have made the festival a marquee event.
Who are Global Citizen’s biggest activist partners?
Global Citizen works with many well-known activist organizations, nonprofits, and social enterprises as partners for its campaigns. Some of their most prominent ongoing partners include:
- ONE – Fights poverty and preventable disease, co-founded by Bono.
- WaterAid – Works to provide clean water and sanitation across the developing world.
- Girls Not Brides – Aims to end child marriage worldwide.
- Raise Your Hand – Advocates for quality education for all children.
- She’s the First – Empowers girls globally through education.
- Recovery Plan for the World – Seeks a global response to end the COVID-19 pandemic.
Partnering with these respected organizations allows Global Citizen to tap into their expertise and existing campaigns when setting advocacy goals.
What awards has Global Citizen won?
Global Citizen has been recognized through several major awards for its innovative advocacy and campaigning, including:
- People’s Choice Awards – The Challenge Accepted Award (2017)
- Webby Awards – Public Service & Activism (2016)
- Shorty Awards – Best Overall Facebook Presence (2015)
- Cannes Lion – Glass Grand Prix Award (2014)
- Mashable Awards – Best Social Good Campaign (2012)
These honors highlight the unique digital-first approach Global Citizen has pioneered to inspire activism through entertainment and pop culture.
How can someone get involved with Global Citizen?
There are several ways individuals can get involved with the Global Citizen movement:
- Visit the Global Citizen website and app and start taking actions to earn tickets to festivals.
- Sign up to become a Global Citizen member to receive email updates on campaigns.
- Follow Global Citizen on social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to see new actions and pledges as they’re announced.
- Donate or fundraise for Global Citizen’s campaigns and partner organizations.
- Share information on Global Citizen with friends to spread awareness.
- Attend Global Citizen events when they come to your city.
- Embed Global Citizen campaigns and videos to help them go viral.
Global Citizen makes it easy for anyone passionate about social justice to get involved through simple, high-impact actions. Consistent engagement by millions of Global Citizens worldwide makes the movement’s advocacy powerful.
Conclusion
The Global Citizen Festival has reimagined charity concerts as a platform to fuel real policy and financial change. By motivating fans to advocate for the world’s poorest, Global Citizen leverages pop culture and entertainment to drive significant poverty-fighting commitments from leaders. Over 10 years, the festival has secured historic pledges while activating millions in the push for a more equitable world. With major performances, surprise guests, and ongoing innovations, Global Citizen represents an exciting new model for global activism.
