global citizen

27 Oct 2025

Shakira & The Weeknd Join FIFA Global Citizen Education Board Ahead of 2026 World Cup With Ivanka Trump, Serena Williams & More Also Onboard

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Shakira and The Weeknd are two of several big names joining the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund’s Advisory Board ahead of next year’s World Cup, it was announced Monday (Oct. 27).

The Latin music superstar and Canadian hitmaker will work with fellow board members Ivanka Trump, Hugh Jackman, Gianni Infantino, Hugh Evans and Serena Williams — as well as other “leading figures across entertainment, sports, and business,” according to a release — in overseeing the fund’s efforts to make education more accessible around the world. They’ll draw on their own personal experiences and careers to provide guidance and ensure that the fund “achieves maximum impact” ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup next summer.

The goal is to raise $100 million for education efforts, with Global Citizen aiming to service 100,000 children across 200+ communities worldwide. The first round of grantees will be announced in early 2026; to apply, visit globalcitizen.org/education-fund-apply.

News of the board’s A-list membership comes months after the March announcement that Coldplay’s Chris Martin will curate FIFA’s first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime show for the 2026 World Cup, taking place at the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. “This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said at the time.

A multifaceted charity organization, Global Citizen works to address critical issues such as climate change, poverty and inequality through campaigns, conferences and other awareness-raising events. This weekend, Global Citizen Festival: Amazônia will take place in Brazil, marking the first Global Citizen Fest in Latin America, where Martin is set to perform along with Anitta, Charlie Puth, Seu Jorge and more. The festival’s goal is to amplify the voices of indigenous peoples and local communities in the Amazon rainforest and raise $1 billion to protect, restore and rewild the Amazon rainforest.

Global Citizen’s partnership with FIFA comes at a time when 350 million children worldwide are currently not in school, the organization reports.


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23 Oct 2025

Charlie Puth Joining Anitta, Chris Martin & More on Brazil’s Global Citizen Festival Amazônia Lineup: ‘Such an Important Cause for Our Planet’

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Fresh off the release of his new single “Changes,” Charlie Puth is ready to be part of the change in protecting the Amazon rainforest by joining the lineup of Global Citizen Festival: Amazônia, taking place next weekend in Brazil, Billboard can exclusively reveal.

Puth will join previously announced performers Anitta, Seu Jorge, Gilberto Gil, Gaby Amarantos, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Eric Terena, Kaê Guajajara and Djuena Tikunal. It’s all going down Saturday, Nov. 1, at Belém’s Estádio Olímpico, also known as Mangueirão, in Pará, Brazil.

“I’m thrilled to be coming to Belém for the first Global Citizen Festival in Latin America,” Puth said in a press release announcing his addition. “As a Global Citizen ambassador, I’m honored to be part of such an important cause for our planet and can’t wait to see you on November 1st.”

Also announced Thursday (Oct. 23): Brazilian singer Vivi Batidão will perform during the festival’s pre-show, and Alane Dias, Ricardinho and Luiza Zveiter have joined the lineup of presenters. The festival will be co-hosted by Regina Casé, Mel Fronckowiak, Hugo Gloss and Isabelle Nogueira, with appearances by Rodrigo Santoro and Estêvão Ciavatta.

Any fans not attending in person can visit globalcitizen.watch to tune in live on Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. ET, and the fest will also broadcast on Globo across Brazil.

The event will focus on amplifying the voices of indigenous peoples and local communities in the Amazon rainforest and aim to raise $1 billion to protect, restore and rewild the Amazon rainforest. Global Citizen Festival: Amazônia will be a zero carbon footprint festival, in alignment with Global Citizen’s campaign to Protect the Amazon rainforest; find the full details of the Protect the Amazon campaign here.

Puth will likely perform some of his newest music at the festival, after announcing his fourth studio album, Whatever’s Clever!, last week and dropping the lead single “Changes” alongside a music video that doubled as a pregnancy announcement for him and his wife Brooke. Puth just wrapped a 16-show residency at Blue Note Jazz Club in New York and Los Angeles, where he also live-debuted “Beat Yourself Up” from the new project, due March 6 via Atlantic Records.

Billboard’s Live Music Summit will be held in Los Angeles on Nov. 3. Find details about tickets and more information here.

09 Jun 2025

Doja Cat, Tems & J Balvin to Headline First-Ever FIFA Club World Cup Final Halftime Show

Doja Cat, Tems and J Balvin will headline the first-ever FIFA Club World Cup Final Halftime Show, with the sports organization and Global Citizen announcing Monday (June 9) that the three musicians will take the stage for one of the most-watched sporting events on Earth.

This year’s final will take place July 13 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., with the halftime show set to air live in a free broadcast on DAZN.com. The lineup was personally curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay to benefit FIFA Global Citizen’s Education Fund, which launched in April with a mission to raise $100 million for children’s education and soccer programs all over the world.

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“From Medellín to MetLife — I’m honored to headline the first-ever halftime show of the FIFA Club World Cup final,” Balvin said in a statement. “It’s a historic moment — for me, for Latin culture and for every kid who dreams big.”

Tems added, “We’re going to bring the world together for a beautiful moment — to celebrate football, feel the unity that music brings and improve the lives of millions of children through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.”

The lineup reveal comes a couple of months after it was first announced that Martin would be spearheading the Super Bowl halftime show-esque concert, building on his history as the Global Citizen Festival’s international curator. The nonprofit organization is producing the show in partnership with Live Nation, Done+Dusted and DPS.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino previously teased that the production would be the “best halftime show ever.”

“We’re thinking big,” he added in a March interview with FOX 5. “We’ll have 2 billion viewers from every corner of the world. It’s like 20 times the Super Bowl. So, we are very excited about that. You have to watch it — that’s the surprise. It will be global, different languages, different countries.”

13 Apr 2025

Global Citizen Co-Founder Hugh Evans Becomes First Australian to Receive the Sunhak Peace Prize

Hugh Evans, the Co-Founder and CEO of Global Citizen, has become the first Australian to be awarded the prestigious Sunhak Peace Prize.

Evans was named as the 2025 recipient of the award at the Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony in Seoul, Korea on April 11, with his leadership and innovation in the mission to end extreme poverty cited as the reason for his recognition.

The Sunhak Peace Prize has been handed out on a largely biannual basis since 2015, with its Committee currently chaired by former European Commission President José Manuel Durão Barroso. Evans received the 2025 award alongside laureates Patrick Awuah Jr., the Ghanaian Founder and President of Ashesi University, and Wanjira Mathai, Kenyan activist and Regional Director for Africa at the World Resources Institute.

“I am deeply honoured to receive the 2025 Sunhak Peace Prize,” Evans said in a statement. “While over $49 billion has been committed toward the end of extreme poverty, impacting 1.3 billion lives, our mission is more critical now than ever before. We are rising to the challenge – we’re innovating, expanding and will be activating across five continents in the coming year. 

“I share this award with our incredible team, long-standing partners, generous supporters, and global citizens everywhere who have taken action with us over the past decade and beyond.”

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Evans co-founded Global Citizen in 2008 alongside Michael Sheldrick, Simon Moss and Wei Soo, with the organization focusing on education and advocacy to end extreme poverty and promote both social justice and equity on a global scale. 

Global Citizen has utilized high-impact campaigns and live events in an effort to unite leaders across myriad fields, with its Global Citizen Festival launching in 2012 and taking place in numerous cities around the world since.

Its most recent event took place in New York City in September 2024, with Post Malone, Doja Cat, Jelly Roll and Rauw Alejandro appearing. On Thursday (April 10), Global Citizen announced its 2025 event will take place in Central Park on Sept. 27.

“As our world faces rising temperatures, growing inequality, and deepening uncertainty, this year’s Global Citizen Festival is an opportunity to push for real, lasting change,” said chief music and entertainment officer Katie Hill in a statement. “We’re excited to unite 60,000 global citizens on the Great Lawn of Central Park — together with some of the world’s biggest artists and advocates — to demand action. See you on September 27th!”

News of Evans’ award also coincides with Global Citizen’s announcement of new events, including the forthcoming Global Citizen NOW summit, November’s Global Citizen Festival: Amazonia in Brazil, and its involvement in the production of the inaugural FIFA World Cup final half-time show in July 2026.

19 Nov 2024

Global Citizen Promotes Katie Hill to Chief Music & Entertainment Officer, lfeoma Chuks-Adizue Named Africa MD

Global Citizen has made two key appointments to their executive leadership team, the company tells Billboard. Katie Hill, senior vp of music, entertainment and artist relations, has been promoted to chief music and entertainment officer, while lfeoma Chuks-Adizue has been hired as Global Citizen’s first-ever MD in Africa.

Hill has been at the company since 2014, leading the music, entertainment and artist relations team in securing renowned acts for Global Citizen’s festivals and campaigns to support the international education and advocacy organization’s mission to end extreme poverty. She’s worked closely with Beyoncé, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Finneas, Coldplay, BTS‘ Jung Kook, BLACKPINK‘s LISA and many more artists, as well as their management teams, to ensure Global Citizen’s mission is clear and accessible. She also developed the company’s Ambassadors and Advocates for Change program, which has built long-term partnerships with Usher, Hugh Jackman and Priyanka Chopra Jonas.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Global Citizen’s executive leadership team as Chief Music and Entertainment Officer. It’s been an honor to help build such an important movement, which truly leverages the power of music and entertainment to create positive change in the world,” Hill tells Billboard in a statement. “When I reflect on the impact that has been achieved over my last 10 years at Global Citizen, I am inspired by the passion and dedication of so many incredible artists and partners across the industry that have joined us in the fight to end extreme poverty. I can’t wait to build on this collaborative impact.”

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Chuks-Adizue will spearhead Global Citizen’s activities in Africa, implementing its strategy across the continent including the next installment of Move Afrika: A Global Citizen Experience. In November 23, Lamar and his company, pgLang, teamed up with Global Citizen to create Move Afrika, a first-of-its-kind touring circuit across Africa that aims at driving economic investment, creating jobs and supporting entrepreneurship opportunities in each host country. Lamar headlined Move Afrika: Rwanda in Kigali last December, with pgLang set to serve as the curator of Move Afrika until 2028. According to a press release, that event employed more than 1,000 Rwandans and engaged 75% local crew and production staff, with a specific focus on creating opportunities for skill development and international skill training. Ghana joined Rwanda as a host country for Move Afrika earlier this year.

In her new role, Chuks-Adizue will oversee key partnerships that span business development, marketing, broadcast and event production, as well as Global Citizen’s Africa-based teams and operations. Based out of Global Citizen’s office in Lagos, Nigeria, Chuks-Adizue will also work closely with the company’s executive leadership in New York, playing an instrumental role in building relationships with private sector partners and within the philanthropic community.

“I’m honored to be joining the Global Citizen team in this newly created position to drive efforts and impact across Africa. Powered by everyday advocates, campaigns and events that span the world, Global Citizen’s efforts are critical to ending extreme poverty, and I’m humbled to bring my experience and leadership to this vital work,” says Chuks-Adizue. “I look forward to working with many fantastic partners to continue the momentum and growth of Move Afrika, the pioneering music touring circuit, and drive economic investment, job creation and entrepreneurship opportunities across the continent.”

Prior to joining Global Citizen, Chuks-Adizue served as executive director commercial at Chemical and Allied Products PLC (CAP PLC), a prominent paints manufacturer and distributor in Nigeria, and held key leadership roles at Procter & Gamble Nigeria and Cadbury Nigeria.

“Ifeoma’s extensive leadership experience, together with her passion for advocating for women and girls across Africa, perfectly aligns with Global Citizen’s mission,” adds Global Citizen president Liza Henshaw. “Her vast networks of relationships across various sectors will be instrumental in advancing our work across the African continent for years to come.” 

17 Nov 2024

Global Citizen Festival to Launch First Large-Scale Music Event in Latin America

The Global Citizen Festival is heading to Latin America.

During Global Citizen NOW: Rio de Janeiro on Sunday (Nov. 17), the international advocacy organization launched its new Power Our Planet: Take Action Now campaign, which will culminate in Global Citizen Festival: Amazonia — the movement’s first large-scale music event in Latin America.

Set for November 2025, Global Citizen Festival: Amazonia will take place at the Estádio Olímpico do Pará in Belém, Brazil. While the exact date is yet to be confirmed, the festival will be timed to coincide with the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), which will take place from November 10-21, 2025.

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In a statement on Sunday, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva said, “One year from now, Brazil will proudly host COP30 in the Amazon rainforest — a defining moment in our collective fight to protect our planet and ensure a sustainable future for all. We are proud of Global Citizen’s Power Our Planet campaign, and to host Global Citizen Festival: Amazonia in Belém next November — the first ever impact concert in the rainforest — with the ambitious goal of raising $1 billion dollars and driving forward the climate justice agenda. Together, we will mark 10 years since the Paris Agreement with a landmark event that sets the world on a transformative path toward a more sustainable and just future.”

Global Citizen co-founder and CEO Hugh Evans stressed the urgent need for action: “The issues of climate change and extreme poverty are two sides of the same coin. The climate crisis could push 100 million more people into poverty in the next five years, and 10 years on from the Paris Agreement, we are not seeing the bold ambition needed from political leaders to stop rising temperatures leading to that decline. The only solution is action now — the next 12 months will be vital for securing new funding and radical policy change, and we’ll campaign to ensure it happens.”

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As with previous editions, Global Citizen Festival: Amazonia will feature top global and Brazilian musical artists, including Indigenous performers. Fans who wish to attend can earn free tickets by taking action in support of the Power Our Planet campaign. More details will be available in the coming months.

Global Citizen Festival: Amazonia will be presented by Banco do Brasil, with organizing partner Re:wild, and policy partners Open Society Foundations and the Bezos Earth Fund.

During Sunday’s summit, Latin Grammy-nominated musician and philanthropist ALOK was announced as an official Global Citizen Advocate for Power Our Planet. The campaign calls on world leaders to take urgent action to protect the Amazon rainforest, scale up renewable energy in Africa, phase out fossil fuels, and demand justice for communities most impacted by climate change.

09 Jul 2024

BLACKPINK’s LISA Joins Lineup For 2024 Global Citizen Festival

BLACKPINK’s LISA is the latest addition to the line-up for the 2024 Global Citizen Festival.

The K-pop superstar will mark her first live solo set at a festival she co-headlines this year’s event, where she joins previously confirmed headliners Post Malone, Doja Cat, Jelly Roll and Rauw Alejandro.

The timing is sweet. Just this week, LISA landed her first Billboard Global Excl. U.S. No. 1 with “Rockstar,” which opened at the summit. The song was first teased on TikTok earlier last month when LISA joined the social media site and set a Guinness World Record by gaining 1 million followers in just over two hours. That’s just one in an impressive and expanding collection of records smashed by LISA, Jennie, Rosé and Jisoo.

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“We are thrilled to join forces with LISA for what will be her first ever solo performance at a music festival,” comments Katie Hill, senior VP, head of music, entertainment and artist relations at Global Citizen, the world’s leading organization seeking to end extreme poverty. “LISA is not only an incredible performer, but also a powerful advocate, leveraging her voice and platform to drive action on some of the most urgent challenges our world is facing.”

As previously reported, the concert will be presented at the Great Lawn in New York’s Central Park on Sept. 28, and hosted by Global Citizen Ambassador actor Hugh Jackman. The day will also feature appearances from Jane Goodall, as well as Coldplay singer Chris Martin, the festival curator.

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“As world leaders gather in New York for the UN General Assembly,” reads a statement, “the 2024 Global Citizen Festival will advocate for the equity of all people, calling on governments, philanthropists and the private sector to ensure the basic needs of the world’s marginalized communities are fulfilled, including immunizations and strong health systems, quality education, and nutritious food.”

Tickets to the Global Citizen Festival are free and can be earned by taking action on the Global Citizen app or at globalcitizenfestival.com to defeat poverty, defend the planet and demand equity.

28 Mar 2024

Anitta & More Announced as Co-Chairs for Global Citizen NOW Summit

Anitta, Danai Gurira, Hugh Jackman, Dakota Johnson and Michelle Yeoh are the co-chairs set for this year’s Global Citizen NOW, a two-day leadership summit planned for May 1-2 at Spring Studios in New York City.

The Brazilian star, who will speak at the summit, is set to join political, corporate and philanthropic leaders for the program that is focused on driving action for a world where “everyone’s basic needs are fulfilled” the advocacy organization announced on Thursday (March 28).

Furthermore, the 2024 edition of the Global Citizen NOW summit will zoom in on ideas for “urgent action” to achieve access for all people to food, energy, healthcare and education; advocate for the flourishing of the planet by pushing for increased climate financing and the phase out of fossil fuels; and drive toward a future where every person and country can prosper through economic development, access to finance, innovation and job creation, according to a press release.

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Also announced as participants at the event are Mokgweetsi Masisi, president of Botswana; Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda; Philip Davis, Prime Minister of the Bahamas; and Janja Lula da Silva, First Lady of Brazil.

“The world is standing at a crossroads and we have a choice: we can watch the impoverished go hungry, suffer through natural disasters, and die from preventable diseases, or we can take bold action to defeat poverty, defend the planet and course correct toward a more equitable future,” Hugh Evans, co-founder & CEO, Global Citizen, said in a statement. “We have the power to create monumental impact this year, but only if we have the courage to stand up and take action now.” 

Additional details about the Global Citizen NOW summit will become available in the coming weeks.

22 Feb 2024

Global Citizen NOW Sets First International Edition In Melbourne

Global Citizen NOW will make its international debut in Melbourne, Australia next month, for a two-day program capped with a special performance by Crowded House.

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Set for March 4-6 at Centrepiece, Melbourne Park, the summit will drive action on the climate crisis, gender inequity, innovations in health systems and fighting food insecurity and extreme poverty in the region and around the world, as Australia hosts ASEAN leaders in the Victorian capital.

Speakers include Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York; Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste. Global Citizen ambassadors Hugh Jackman and Charlie Puth; Julia Gillard, former prime minister of Australia; and Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank, will join virtually.

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Ferguson is co-chair of the event. “I’m coming to Global Citizen NOW: Melbourne to participate in vital intergenerational conversations with young leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region, who are doing frontline, grassroots work to address the climate crisis, the hunger crisis, girls’ education,” she explains in a statement, “and issues perpetuating cycles of extreme poverty. I look forward to listening to them, learning from them, and contributing whatever voice I have to speak up for the future of our planet.”

The inaugural Global Citizen NOW: Melbourne event wraps March 6 with Global Citizen Nights, an “intimate evening of music and storytelling” at the Palais Theatre, headlined by Crowded House.

“We are delighted to be providing a closing performance for Global Citizen, who are bringing together talented and passionate young advocates and innovators to help solve the most urgent problems facing all of us…equity and climate,” comments Crowded House frontman Neil Finn. “Who knows from what distant corners brilliant ideas might come from. Young people’s amazing potential is sometimes hidden from view. We want to be there to help bring it into the light.”

The ARIA Hall of Fame-inducted band is gearing up for the release of Gravity Stairs, their first through a new arrangement with BMG. Due out May 31, it’s the eighth studio album from the beloved folk-rock act which has sold over 15 million records worldwide, won 13 ARIA Awards, eight APRA Awards, a BRIT Award, an MTV VMA and landed No. 1 albums in the U.K. and Australia.

Free tickets to the performance and can be earned by taking action on the Global Citizen app and at globalcitizen.org/nights.

Global Citizen, the leading advocacy organization, has a strong Australian connection. It’s the brainchild of Australia humanitarian Hugh Evans. “It’s all I’ve ever cared about, since I was literally 12 years old, was the eradication of extreme poverty. It’s the simplest truth about me and our co-founders,” Evans told this reporter in 2022, on a trip to his homeland.

Global Citizen NOW: Melbourne is presented by the State Government of Victoria, with a range of partners including Cisco, Citi and P&G.

Additional performers will be announced in the coming days.

03 Nov 2023

Global Citizen & pgLang Create New Touring Circuit ‘Move Africa’

Global Citizen and pgLang have teamed up to create a new touring circuit throughout Africa titled Move Afrika: A Global Citizen Experience. To kick off the initiative, Kendrick Lamar will headline Move Afrika: Rwanda at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, on Dec. 6. Lamar’s pgLang company will serve as the Curator of Move Afrika for the next five years, from 2023 until 2028. 

According to a press release, the goal of Move Afrika will be to “address the world’s inequities by creating job and entrepreneurship opportunities for the continent’s emerging generations through an annual series of world-class live events.” It will also “drive transformative investments within local communities, engage local artists, vendors, agencies and crews, and provide opportunities for on-the-job skill development and training.”

Rwanda will host Move Afrika for the next five years. After that, the tour schedule will add more countries with hopes of expanding to five by 2025. Partners of Move Afrika include pgLang, the Rwanda Development Board and TimesLive.

“Africa is driving culture and creativity globally, but the Continent has been left out of the global music touring circuit for too long,” says Hugh Evans, co-founder and CEO of Global Citizen. “By moving from one-off events to the sustained commitment of an annual tour, Move Afrika will drive transformative investments across Africa through the pioneering of a world-class touring circuit.”

“Our goal with Move Afrika is to inspire local youth and artists to unlock their creativity. We hope to curate an immersive experience that empowers various communities and cultures across Africa and around the world for a lifetime,” adds pgLang.

Move Afrika will also aim to include regional artists to the Dec. 6 show to perform alongside Lamar. For more information and tickets to the event, fans can go here.