Tyla is making history again, this time by joining a line-up of global icons at the Global Citizen Festival… a stage that blends music with a mission for change.
Global (17 August 2025) – South Africa is once again centre stage on the global music map… and it’s thanks to Tyla. Fresh off producing the first-ever FIFA Club World Cup halftime show, she’s now set to perform at the legendary Global Citizen Festival in New York’s Central Park on 27 September 2025.
This proudly South African story is about more than music; it’s about impact. Tyla will stand alongside global powerhouses The Weeknd and Shakira, with Ayra Starr and Mariah the Scientist also performing. Hosted by Global Citizen Ambassador Hugh Jackman, the festival is not just about entertainment but about driving action on some of the world’s biggest challenges.
For Tyla, being included in a line-up of this scale shows just how far her music has travelled, and how proudly she represents South Africa every step of the way. With millions watching and thousands on the Great Lawn of Central Park, Tyla’s voice and artistry will carry her story and that of her country.
The 2025 Global Citizen Festival is built around three bold goals:
- Energy access for 1 million people across Africa through renewable power projects and youth skills development.
- Protecting 30 million hectares of the Amazon rainforest with $200 million in funding for Indigenous-led initiatives.
- Providing quality education for 30,000 children worldwide through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
It’s a call to action for governments, companies, philanthropists and everyday people to play their part in shaping a better future. Tickets remain free, earned not with money but by taking meaningful action on these pressing issues.
“I’m honoured to headline the incredible Global Citizen Festival in Central Park this September. Music has always been my way of connecting with people and leaving a mark on the world. I can’t wait to perform, unite, and inspire action,” shared Shakira.
Hugh Jackman, who has hosted the festival for eleven years, reflected: “The growing impact of the Global Citizen movement touches every corner of the world, and I’m eager to advocate alongside my fellow ambassadors, performers, world leaders, and private sector executives to leave the world better than we found it.”
Her journey from Johannesburg to the heart of New York’s Central Park reminds us that local stories can become global ones, and that music can be a force that bridges cultures while pushing for real change. And maybe that’s the most beautiful part: one of our own, standing on one of the world’s biggest stages, carrying a piece of South Africa with her, while helping shape a brighter, fairer future for all.
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