The 2026 Global Citizen Festival has been canceled, organizers confirmed.
Organizers said Friday, Sept. 25, that the 2026 Global Citizen Festival will not go on, citing "the extreme weather forecast for New York City" this upcoming weekend.
"Due to the extreme weather forecast for New York City this weekend, we have made the difficult decision, in consultation with the City of New York and NYC Parks, to cancel this year's Global Citizen Festival," Global Citizen shared in a statement via Instagram.
"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. Safety has to come
first," it continued. "This is the first time in 14 years we've had to cancel. 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 decision comes after forecasts of a nor'easter expected to bring rain, gusty winds and coastal flooding, according to PIX11.
Global Citizen Festival performers: Who was on the lineup?
Fugees legends Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean were expected to headline the annual music festival, originally scheduled for Sept. 26 at New York City’s Central Park. This year's celebration would've marked the 30th anniversary of the group's sophomore album, "The Score," released to critical acclaim in 1996 and featuring hits like "Ready or Not" and "Killing Me Softly."
Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Victoria Monét, Alicia Keys, Shaboozey and Lainey Wilson were also slated to take the main stage at this year's festivities.
Will Global Citizen Festival tickets be refunded?
Yes, ticket holders can expect automatic refunds.
"If you purchased tickets to the Festival, your refunds will be processed automatically," Global Citizen said in a statement. "If you made a donation to secure your ticket, you can have this refunded, too. You will receive an email today that lays out your options."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Global Citizen Festival canceled amid 'extreme weather': Ticket refunds, more
