Exclusive: Global Citizen Festival Canceled With Ms. Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean Highlight

Global Citizen Festival has been canceled in Central Park as an approaching nor’easter threatens to bring dangerous winds to New York City.

AllHipHop has exclusively learned that crews are already dismantling the massive stage and tents erected on Central Park’s Great Lawn for the Saturday event as organizers respond to concerns about the incoming storm.

A source with direct knowledge of the situation told AllHipHop that the festival stage could withstand winds of approximately 35 mph or less. Forecasts surrounding the approaching nor’easter raised concerns that winds could exceed that threshold.

The decision effectively pulls the plug on one of New York City’s biggest annual music and advocacy gatherings just before thousands of attendees were expected to descend on Central Park.

AllHipHop has also learned that food prepared for the festival will not go to waste. According to the source, food connected to the canceled event is being donated to people in need.

People who purchased tickets are also expected to receive refunds, according to AllHipHop’s source.

The cancellation comes after weather concerns had already placed the festival’s future in doubt. CBS New York reported Thursday that a nor’easter was expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds Saturday. At that time, festival organizers said the New York City Parks Department would ultimately determine whether conditions were safe enough for the event to proceed.

The timing could hardly be worse for an enormous lineup.

Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean were scheduled to headline the 2026 Global Citizen Festival with a performance celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Fugees’ landmark album “The Score.”

Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, Victoria Monét, YEONJUN and YOSHIKI were also announced as performers. Alicia Keys & Friends were scheduled for a special performance.

Actor Hugh Jackman was slated to return as host while Rachel Brosnahan, Gayle King, Bill Nye, Katie Couric, Jordan Fisher, Marcus Samuelsson and several other notable figures were scheduled to appear.

Global Citizen uses its annual Central Park gathering as more than a concert. The organization connects access to festival tickets with advocacy and volunteer actions aimed at fighting extreme poverty. This year’s campaign focuses on education, assistance for smallholder farmers and expanding access to reliable electricity.

The festival was scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26, on Central Park’s Great Lawn with gates opening at 2 p.m. and performances beginning at 4 p.m.

Instead, according to AllHipHop’s exclusive sources, crews are taking apart what they spent days building.

The Great Lawn was supposed to become a global stage Saturday. Now the stage itself is coming down as New York braces for a storm powerful enough to silence one of the city’s biggest concerts before the first note could be played.