Global Citizen Festival Canceled as Nor'easter Threatens New York

The Global Citizen Festival will not take place in Central Park this weekend after organizers pulled the plug on Friday afternoon, citing an extreme weather forecast for New York City. The decision came less than 24 hours before the Saturday event was scheduled to begin on the Great Lawn, with a lineup that included Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey, Tomorrow X Together, and more, according to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.

In a statement shared on the organization's website and social media, Global Citizen said the cancellation followed consultation with the City of New York and NYC Parks. "Forecasts predict dangerous conditions and circumstances in which we cannot safely bring tens of thousands of Global Citizens, artists, crew, vendors, partners, and staff onto the Great Lawn, let alone all of the equipment required," the statement read. "Safety has to come first."

The nor'easter moving up the East Coast has already forced other cancellations, including Ed Sheeran's Gillette Stadium concerts in Massachusetts and the All Things Go festival in Queens, according to Rolling Stone and Billboard. Mayor Zohran Mamdani warned on Friday that the storm's path had shifted closer to the city, bringing heavier rain and stronger winds than initially expected.

Global Citizen said this is the first time in 14 years it has had to cancel the festival. "We have spent this week working through countless contingencies, which were ultimately not possible, and cancelling is a decision we have not taken lightly," the organization said. The event typically coincides with the United Nations General Assembly and serves as a major advocacy moment, with attendees earning tickets through actions on issues like poverty and climate.

Ticket refunds will be processed automatically, and food that was set to be served at the festival will be donated to local organizations, according to The Hollywood Reporter and Global Citizen's website. The organization also highlighted that over the past six weeks, Global Citizens took 3.5 million actions that secured $208.8 million in financial commitments impacting more than 9.5 million people.

The cancellation comes after a similar storm in 2023 caused more than $600,000 in damage to the Great Lawn when the festival went ahead during Tropical Storm Ophelia, according to West Side Rag. That incident closed the lawn to the public for months and prompted Upper West Side Councilmember Gale Brewer to renew her call for moving the event to Randall's Island.

Global Citizen said it will return to Central Park next year. "We can't wait for you to be there with us," the organization wrote.