Ayra Starr has been announced as part of the lineup for the 2025 Global Citizen Festival, set to take place on September 27 at Central Park in New York City.
The Nigerian singer will reunite with South African pop star Tyla onstage, performing alongside headliners The Weeknd and Shakira. Also confirmed for the festival are Mariah the Scientist and long-time Global Citizen ambassador Hugh Jackman, who returns as host for the eleventh time.
The inclusion of African talents like Starr and Tyla highlights the festival’s continued effort to highlight diverse global voices.
Organized annually, the Global Citizen Festival blends entertainment with activism, offering free tickets to fans who take action on pressing global issues.
This year’s campaign is anchored on three objectives: expanding energy access to one million people in Africa; mobilizing $200 million to protect 30 million hectares of the Amazon rainforest through Indigenous- and community-led projects; and ensuring quality education for 30,000 children around the world. The festival also aims to recruit 40,000 volunteers across New York City to support these goals.
This announcement comes just hours after Starr revealed that her new single, “Hot Body,” will be released on Friday, July 25.
More artistes and speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.