Cardi B Joins Global Citizen Festival Lineup, Replacing the Weeknd

A major last-minute change has reshaped the Global Citizen Festival lineup for this Saturday in New York City. Due to personal reasons, The Weeknd has withdrawn from the event, and Cardi B will now perform in his stead. The free festival, taking place September 27 on the Great Lawn in Central Park, will feature the Grammy-winning rapper alongside headliner Shakira, with actor Hugh Jackman once again serving as host.

Cardi B, a Bronx native, expressed her excitement about the opportunity. "Central Park, I’m coming for you!!! I can’t wait to be home in New York, and to bring my new songs and all the DRAMA," she stated. She emphasized the festival's distinct focus on rallying global support to help children, setting it apart from conventional concerts. The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, apologized for his absence and affirmed his support for Global Citizen's mission. CEO Hugh Evans commended Cardi B as an "outstanding performer" while expressing understanding for The Weeknd's situation. This substitution evokes a sense of history, as both artists graced the festival's stage in 2018—an event remembered for a mass panic triggered by the sound of popping drink bottles, mistakenly thought to be gunfire.

The 2025 festival is advocating for a series of significant global pledges. Its objectives include securing energy access for one million individuals across Africa, mobilizing $200 million to safeguard 30 million hectares of the Amazon rainforest, and guaranteeing 30,000 children worldwide receive a quality education combined with soccer training, the latter through a collaboration with FIFA. A festival spokesperson highlighted that the sheer ambition of these goals necessitates complex, international alliances to effectively address extreme poverty. An additional local goal is to register 40,000 New Yorkers for community volunteer work.

As with previous years, admission to the festival is not for sale. Instead, attendees must earn tickets by participating in advocacy campaigns through the Global Citizen app or website. In light of the lineup change, Ticketmaster will notify current ticket holders regarding refund procedures. For those unable to attend, the event will be broadcast live on September 27 via YouTube, Apple Music, Twitch, and iHeartRadio, with a theatrical screening in India on September 28. An official watch party is also scheduled for Hudson Yards, the sprawling commercial and residential neighborhood on Manhattan's West Side.

The event is produced by Emmy Award-winning companies Done+Dusted and Diversified Production Services. It is presented by technology giant Cisco, with key support from partners such as Delta Air Lines, PayPal, and Procter & Gamble. The festival works with local New York charities, including the Bowery Mission and Covenant House, and has teamed up with the platform Goodera, allowing participants to earn ticket points by engaging in career mentorship. This scheduling update comes as Cardi B promotes her recently released second album, "Am I the Drama?," and her newly announced 2026 "Little Miss Drama" tour. The Weeknd, by contrast, has just concluded the North American segment of his extensive "After Hours Til Dawn" tour, with international shows planned to resume in 2025.