Posted on Sep 22, 2022
 
Global Citizen Festival is an annual music festival where fans take actions toward ending extreme poverty in order to earn free tickets. The festival brings together Global Citizens, artists, activists, world leaders, philanthropists, corporate leaders, and more, to donate their time to elevate our causes on a global stage and with one collective mission: End Extreme Poverty NOW. It’s a moment both to celebrate all we have achieved together, and all we continue to achieve together. 

The inaugural Global Citizen Festival took place on September 29, 2012 with 60,000 people in attendance on the Great Lawn in New York’s iconic Central Park. The festival featured live performances by Neil Young with Crazy Horse, Foo Fighters, The Black Keys, Band of Horses, K’Naan and more. Since then, artists like Rihanna, Beyoncé, JAY-Z, Pearl Jam, Stevie Wonder, Coldplay, Billie Eilish, and many more have performed on Global Citizen Festival stages around the world. 
 
Over the years, the combined voices of the members of Global Citizen and the star power of the festival have driven incredible donations, commitments, and changes from governments, leaders, and the private sector. This year Global Citizen is focusing on empowering young girls and women for our mission End Extreme Poverty NOW, an urgent call to action that demands immediate commitments from our world leaders. 
 
This year will be the 10th anniversary of Global Citizen Festival in New York City, and that momentum is being used to celebrate the work accomplished while reminding everyone of how far we all still need to go.

Global Citizen Festival is timed to coincide with and takes place ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in September, and the G20 Summit and COP27 in November so as to leverage opportunities to get policy and financial commitments from government, corporate, and philanthropic leaders to defeat poverty, demand equity, and defend the planet. Tickets to Global Citizen Festival are awarded through points earned by taking actions to fight extreme poverty, such as signing petitions, calling your political representatives, participating in challenges, and more.
 
In 2022, Global Citizen is calling on world leaders to step up and invest US$600 million into the future of women and girls, close the annual US$10 billion climate financing shortfall, deliver US$500 million to help farmers in Africa respond to the global food crisis, and provide urgent relief from crushing debts — all to End Extreme Poverty NOW. 

The 2022 Global Citizen Festival is a global campaign event that everyone, everywhere can get involved in to support the rallying cry to end extreme poverty NOW. Global Citizen Festival will be broadcast and streamed around the world, with simultaneous festival events taking place in Black Star Square Accra, Ghana, and on the Great Lawn in Central Park in New York City, USA, on September 24. 
 
Globally, the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed nearly 100 million more people into extreme poverty and is reversing recent progress the world had made towards shrinking inequality and reducing poverty. Meanwhile, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has aggravated the situation further, with as many as 323 million people now facing acute hunger, and 1.2 billion people now living in nations experiencing a perfect storm of food, energy, and financial crises. If we don’t take urgent action NOW, things will only get worse and as many as 200 million more people could be plunged into extreme poverty by November.
 
The crisis of extreme poverty exacerbated by the pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine is making ending extreme poverty impossible without commitments from world leaders, corporations, and philanthropists — and actions from Global Citizens like you.
 
Join people from around the world for the 2022 Global Citizen Festival as we all harness the power of activism, artists, and global leadership to commit the billions of dollars needed to end extreme poverty NOW, before it’s too late.
 

What is Global Citizen?

Global Citizen is the world's largest movement of action takers and impact makers dedicated to ending extreme poverty NOW. The voices of millions of Global Citizens around the world are driving lasting change towards sustainability, equality, and humanity by taking action every day. 

Global Citizen and its members post, tweet, message, vote, sign, and call to inspire those who can make things happen to act — government leaders, businesses, philanthropists, artists, and citizens — together improving lives. 

By downloading their app, Global Citizens learn about the systemic causes of extreme poverty, take action on those issues, and earn rewards with tickets to events, products, subscriptions, and more. 

Global Citizens have taken over 30.4 million actions since 2009. Today, these actions, in combination with high-level advocacy work, have led to over $41.4 billion being distributed to our partners around the world, impacting 1.15 billion lives in the fight to end extreme poverty.

You can learn more about Global Citizen's impact here: https://www.globalcitizen.org/impact
 

Global Citizen and Rotary

Jennifer Jones, right, announced Rotary’s $97 million pledge for sustainable projects during the Global Citizen Live
event on 25 September 2021 in Paris, France. She was joined on stage with British actress Carmen Ejogo.
 
Rotary International serves as an active global partner to Global Citizen particularly as both organizations share several common goals, none the least of which are ending extreme poverty and ending polio globally. 
 
Rotary has worked with Global Citizen for a more than decade, primarily regarding the effort to eradicate polio worldwide. At the 2012 Global Citizen event in New York City, Rotary General Secretary John Hewko and celebrity ambassador Archie Panjabi announced Rotary’s $75 million commitment to polio eradication. Rotary and Global Citizen have also connected at Rotary International Conventions, the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meetings, polio advocacy events, and polio funding announcements. 
 
In 2021, then RI President-elect Jennifer Jones, announced Rotary’s $97 million pledge in grant funding for sustainable Rotary club-led projects during the Global Citizen Live event on 25 September in Paris, France.
 
The 2021 Global Citizen Live event aimed to unite people to take action to defend the planet, end the COVID-19 pandemic, defeat poverty, provide education for all children, and promote equity and justice for all. Some of the world’s top artists, celebrities, activists, and government leaders participated in this year’s event to raise awareness and support in cities including Paris; Lagos, Nigeria; London, UK; Los Angeles, USA; New York City, USA; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Seoul, Korea; and Sydney, Australia.

During the 24-hour broadcast with events and performances across six continents, in Paris, where Jones pledged Rotary’s support, thousands of people gathered at the iconic Champ de Mars near the Eiffel Tower to see performances from Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Black Eyed Peas, Christine and the Queens, Doja Cat, Angélique Kidjo, and more. Other leaders pledging support included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. 

“Every day millions of girls walk miles to fetch clean water, and millions of boys are on the streets instead of going to school. Every day moms and dads struggle to find ways to feed their children,” Jones said from the main stage in Paris. “And every day, members of Rotary and Global Citizen start our days knowing that we can make a difference.” 

“This year we’re putting a special focus on empowering girls worldwide, opening doors for young women to build brighter futures,” Jones said. “Today Rotary is committed to helping end poverty globally and protecting the planet by pledging $97 million in grant funding during 2022 for sustainable, member-led projects.”

She added: “We stand together with Global Citizen as people of purpose, people of action.”
 
In total, more than $1.1 billion in commitments, 157 million trees to be planted, and 60 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to be donated to developing countries were announced in conjunction with the 25 September 2021 event.
 

What actions can you take during the festival? 

1. Sign the petition to End Extreme Poverty NOW.
 
Global Citizen is calling on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and world leaders to do their part in keeping their promise to prioritize the world’s most vulnerable people in the face of global crises occurring everywhere.

Governments and the private sector must close the $3.5 trillion development financing gap, improve opportunities for women and girls around the world, address the systemic barriers that keep people in poverty and halt the climate crisis. 

Learn more about this action and add your name to the petition here

2. Sign the petition to ask US senators to support President Biden’s 2023 climate budget.
 
US President Joe Biden has proposed his 2023 budget, which includes urgent investments to help lower-income countries face the climate crisis. Global Citizen is calling on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Chris Coons, and members of the Senate to step up and save lives on the front lines of our climate crisis. 

Add your name to the petition here

3. Sign the petition to end polio for everyone, everywhere.
 
Global Citizen is calling on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and world leaders everywhere to take urgent action and deliver additional funding to get the mission to eradicate polio back on track.  

Add your name to the petition here

4. Send an email to the Irish Minister of Finance Micheál Martin to demand that Ireland support poorer countries.
 
Ireland, among many other rich countries, received millions in extra cash from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Global Citizen is calling on Ireland to pledge at least 25% of the millions it received to help millions of people in desperate need. 

Sign and send the email here

5. Urge Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen and world leaders to invest in sexual and reproductive health.

Global Citizen is calling on Denmark and governments around the world to urgently commit funds to women and girl’s sexual and reproductive health and rights. This includes $232 million by the end of 2022 to the UNFPA Supplies Partnership, which delivers essential contraceptives and life-saving maternal health interventions to some of the world's most vulnerable women and girls. 

Sign the petition here.

6. Send an email to the finance ministry of Luxembourg calling on their pledge to protect the world’s poorest.

Like Ireland, Luxembourg received millions in extra cash from the IMF during the pandemic. While other countries have pledged to reallocate a portion of their COVID-19 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), Luxembourg has remained silent.
 
We’re calling on the financial leaders of Luxembourg to step up at this year’s festival and commit lifesaving funds to help those in extreme poverty.

Send an email here
 

How to Watch The 2022 Global Citizen Festival

The Global Citizen Festival 2022 season is officially here, with the world’s biggest artists, most influential leaders, and Global Citizens all uniting to empower girls and women, take climate action, break systemic barriers, and lift up activists and advocates.
 
The ambitious campaign will come to a mind-boggling head on Sept. 24, with twin events in New York City’s Central Park — presented by Citi and Cisco — and Black Star Square in Accra, Ghana, presented by Harith General Partners.
 
Hosted by actor, producer, author, and Global Citizen Ambassador Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Global Citizen Festival: NYC will see performances from Metallica, Charlie Puth, Jonas Brothers, MÅNESKIN, Mariah Carey, Mickey Guyton, and Rosalía, with special guests Angélique Kidjo and Billy Porter.

Presenters include Amber Ruffin, Andy Cohen, Antoni Porowski, Bill Nye, Chris Redd, Connie Britton, Jay Shetty, Katie Holmes, Misty Copeland, Rachel Brosnahan, Scott Evans, Tamron Hall, and Van Jones.

This year will mark 10 years of festivals, and a decade of impact, in Central Park.

In Ghana, to mark the 65th anniversary of the nation’s independence and the 20th anniversary of the African Union, Global Citizen Festival: Accra will be hosted by award-winning actor, playwright, and activist Danai Gurira and feature live performances from Usher, SZA, Stormzy, Gyakie, Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, Uncle Waffles, and TEMS.

Presenters include Berla Mundi, Joselyn Dumas, Michaela Coel, Nomzamo Mbatha, and Sabrina Dhowre Elba.
 
Not everyone will have the opportunity to attend the events in person, of course, so we’ve laid out exactly how you can watch, listen, and stream the show on TV, online, or through the radio.

​​One of the absolute best places to watch is via the Global Citizen app — when you’re on the go, you can carry the show with you in your pocket! To watch, take action, and receive the latest updates, download the Global Citizens app (you can also make an account on their website before you use the app!).

You can also find out how to get involved in the campaign from anywhere in the world.
 
Anyone, anywhere can watch the 10-hour show from the comfort of their homes on the Global Citizen app, YouTube channel, or Twitter page. The livestream will kick off at 4 p.m. ET in New York on Sept. 24, which is 8 p.m. in Accra, 9 p.m. in London, 10 p.m. in Johannesburg and Paris, and midnight for Dubai.

Global livestreams are also available on Amazon Music, Apple Music and the Apple TV App, Twitch, and Veeps.

See below how you can watch Global Citizen Festival. For the latest, most up-to-date details of when and how you can tune in wherever you are, check out globalcitizen.org/info/2022/watch.
 
You can watch Global Citizen Festival from anywhere in the world!
 
ChannelDateTimeCountryHow
 
Sep 24, 20224:00 PM ASTGlobalAmazon Music
Sep 24, 20224:00 PM ASTGlobalApple Music
Sep 24, 20224:00 PM ASTGlobalApp
Sep 24, 20224:00 PM ASTGlobalOnline
Sep 24, 20224:00 PM ASTGlobalOnline
Sep 24, 20224:00 PM ASTGlobalOnline
Sep 24, 20224:00 PM ASTGlobalOnline
Sep 24, 20224:00 PM ASTGlobalOnline
 
 
For more information on Global Citizen: