Ayra Starr and Tyla Will Perform at the Global Citizen 2025

Rising stars Ayra Starr and Tyla are set to take center stage at this year’s Global Citizen Festival. The festival will take place on September 27 in New York City’s Central Park. It’s known for merging music with urgent global action, and this year will feature The Weeknd and Shakira as headliners.

So, the 2025 edition continues Global Citizen’s core mission to eradicate extreme poverty. Additionally, it will tackle climate, education, and energy challenges on a global scale. This year’s focus includes bringing renewable energy to one million people across Africa, ensuring education for 30,000 children worldwide, and protecting 30 million hectares of the Amazon rainforest. It also aims to mobilize 40,000 volunteers throughout NYC.

For Tyla, this festival slot is another career-defining moment. Her blend of amapiano, R&B, and global pop has propelled her far beyond the continent. Thus, the Global Citizen stage feels like a natural next step in her ascension.

Ayra Starr, meanwhile, continues her global rise as one of Afrobeats’ brightest exports. With the recent signing to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, the Nigerian singer is cementing herself as a voice of the next generation. Thus, she is bold, genre-fluid, and unapologetically herself.
Both artists embody the vibrant, youthful creative power coming out of Africa right now. Their inclusion isn’t just a booking. It’s a statement.

Ayra Starr and Tyla Set To Turn at the Festival

Global Citizen is turning the spotlight toward the continent, not only through its stage lineup but also through real-world initiatives. Among them is the Scaling Up Renewables in Africa campaign, which seeks to raise $1.5 billion. All of that money will go to 50,000 young workers in solar energy and power infrastructure. The end goal: reliable electricity access for over a million people, along with long-term climate and economic impact.

“Ending extreme poverty is within our reach,” said Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans in a statement. “But only if we come together to ensure governments and corporations deliver on their promises: scaling up renewable energy, protecting the Amazon, and investing in education for the next generation.”

Tickets are free, but there’s a twist: you have to earn them. Fans can gain access by taking action on the Global Citizen app or website. So, they can sign petitions to contact world leaders or volunteer locally.

Since launching, the Global Citizen platform has helped secure $49 billion in commitments, directly impacting more than a billion lives. With Ayra Starr and Tyla now part of that momentum, the 2025 festival is poised to be more than a show. It’s a cultural force, and a call to action.