Culture 4 min read By Mason Emerson
Alicia Keys, Victoria Monét and Yeonjun Join Global Citizen Festival Lineup in Central Park
Alicia Keys & friends, Victoria Monét, Yeonjun and Yoshiki have been added to the 2026 Global Citizen Festival lineup, joining Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Lenny Kravitz, John Legend and others for the September 26 event in New York's Central Park, hosted by Hugh Jackman.
Alicia Keys & friends, Victoria Monét, Yeonjun and Yoshiki have joined the lineup for the 2026 Global Citizen Festival, organizers announced. The additions expand a bill that already includes Ms. Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean, Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey and Tomorrow X Together.
The festival is set for September 26 in New York's Central Park. Hugh Jackman will host the event, which is the flagship gathering for Global Citizen, the anti-poverty organization that uses major concerts to push for international development funding and policy commitments.
The newly announced performers bring a wide range of styles to the lineup. Alicia Keys, a New York native and multiple Grammy winner, will appear with guests billed as «Alicia Keys & friends.» Victoria Monét, who has become one of pop and R&B's most in-demand songwriters and performers, joins the bill. Yeonjun, a member of the K-pop group Tomorrow X Together, will appear both with his group and as a solo addition, reflecting the festival's growing ties to Korean pop music and its global fan base. Yoshiki, the Japanese rock musician and composer known for his work with X Japan, adds a rock and classical crossover presence to the event.
Beyond the music, the festival will feature a roster of public figures and speakers. Bill Nye, IZA, Jordan Fisher, Katie Couric, Lais Ribeiro, Marcus Samuelsson, Naomi Watanabe and Nomzamo Mbatha are among those scheduled to take part, according to the announcement. Their involvement points to Global Citizen's practice of mixing entertainment with advocacy, using the stage to highlight issues such as food security, climate funding and access to education.
The 2026 edition continues a tradition of drawing major stars to Central Park. In past years, the festival has hosted acts from across pop, rock, hip-hop and Latin music, and it has become a fixture on the New York fall calendar. The combination of a free-ticket model tied to advocacy actions and a high-profile lineup has made it one of the largest recurring music events in the city.
For fans, the announcement adds several reasons to watch. Alicia Keys' appearance will be her latest high-profile New York show, while Monét's addition continues a breakout run that has made her a fixture at awards shows and on festival stages. Yeonjun's inclusion alongside Tomorrow X Together gives the lineup a strong K-pop presence, and Yoshiki's participation brings an international rock dimension that broadens the event's reach.
The festival's organizers have not yet released the full performance schedule or details on how the newly announced artists will be slotted into the day's program. More information, including set times and additional participants, is expected as the September date approaches. The event remains one of the most closely watched cultural gatherings of the year, blending music, celebrity and a sustained push for global development goals.
