The Weeknd, Janet Jackson, Cardi B to Headline Global Citizen Festival
By Variety Staff
LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – International advocacy organization Global Citizen today announced that The Weeknd, Janet Jackson, Cardi B, Shawn Mendes and Janelle Monáe will perform at the organization’s 2018 festival, a free-ticketed event on the Great Lawn in New York’s Central Park, New York City on Saturday, September 29, 2018. It is the second live show has announced since she pulled out of her opening slot on the Bruno Mars tour; she will also headline a festival in Texas late in October.
John Legend will give a special guest performance. Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness return as lead hosts for the 5th year, while co-hosts will include Camren Bicondova, Cynthia Erivo, Danai Gurira, Forest Whitaker, Gus Kenworthy, Kal Penn, La La Anthony, Naomi Campbell, and Rachel Brosnahan. For the fifth consecutive year, MSNBC & Comcast NBCUniversal will air a live simulcast of the Festival on MSNBC and for the seventh consecutive year, iHeartMedia has been named the exclusive audio media partner.
The 2018 festival will serve as a platform from which “millions of Global Citizens around the world will demand that world leaders fulfill their obligation to achieve the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development and end extreme poverty by 2030,” according to the announcement. Specifically, it mentions:
*improving the quality of health care and nutrition that women receive during adolescence and childbirth
*ensuring girls do not marry before they are ready
*reducing, reusing and recycling plastic waste worldwide
*ending the criminalization of poverty
*providing quality education for all
*ensuring the United States fully funds its foreign aid budget
Coinciding with the annual UN General Assembly meetings, this year’s Festival is a continuation of Global Citizen’s “Mandela 100” campaign; a series of global events honoring the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela in his centenary year.
Hugh Evans, CEO of Global Citizen, said, “In 2018, it is more important than ever for Global Citizens here in the United States and around the world to demand their voices be heard – through activism and at the polls – so that we can continue progress towards a world free from needless suffering and want. We are truly grateful to have such incredible artists, hosts and partners standing with us in a moment of history so pivotal in our fight to achieve the global goals and end extreme poverty.”
“We’re incredibly proud to take our support of Global Citizen Festival to the next level as Presenting Partner. As a global bank that is committed to welcoming what’s next, we look forward to helping bring together citizens around the world to stand for issues that matter most and foster meaningful change,” said Jennifer Breithaupt, Global Consumer CMO, Citi
said, “It is invaluable to be in a position where I can use my voice to help the millions of people in need. I am honored to align myself with Global Citizen in the fight to end world poverty.”
said, “I’m so excited to be a part of the Global Citizen movement. It’s an honor to be able to use my platform and music to help those in the world who need it most.” John Legend said, “I’m proud to be supporting Global Citizen again to help focus people’s energy and attention on the issues that matter. I believe we need to look at human beings across the world as our brothers and sisters and do everything we can do to end extreme poverty to make life more livable. We are more powerful when we come together like this.”
The 2018 will be presented for the first time by Citi. The leading global bank has been a proud partner of the festival since inception. Live Nation return for the third consecutive year as production partner.
The Festival broadcast will be produced by longtime Grammy Awards producer Ken Ehrlich and livestreamed on YouTube and Twitter, presented by Johnson & Johnson. Proud partners of the 2018 Global Citizen Festival include Global Citizen’s global health partner and major partner Johnson & Johnson, and major partners P&G, CHIME FOR CHANGE Founded by Gucci, Verizon, House of Mandela, and NYC Parks. Associate Partners include Microsoft, Great Big Story, and One Championship.
Global Citizens can earn their admission to the free-ticketed Festival by joining the movement at glblctzn.me/nyc2018 by downloading the Global Citizen app. Ticket draws will occur throughout the summer and fans will be notified by Global Citizen when they have been selected.
