Rihanna, Selena Gomez and More Famous Singers Slated to Perform at 2016 Global Citizen Festival

Among the lineup are Usher, Chris Martin and Major Lazer

By Samantha Schnurr Jul 26, 2016 2:54 PMTags
RihannaNigel Waldron/Redferns

The time has come once again for the country's biggest musical stars to rock New York City in honor of a global cause. 

The 2016 Global Citizen Festival just announced its star-studded lineup for September's concert and—judging by this list—it's a show no one in the Big Apple or watching from around the world will want to miss.

Among the famous faces—and voices—slated to take the stage in Central Park are eight-time Grammy winner Rihanna, pop sensation Selena Gomez and "Best Rap Performance" Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar. 

"I couldn't be more honored to participate in the Global Citizen Festival as it continues to help solve important issues around the world," Gomez said in a statement for the event. "I am particularly proud to be involved this year as the focus is on education. As an artist with many young fans, I believe everyone has the right to an education."

As the songstress mentioned in her comments, the concert is working to raise particular awareness about the harsh realities surrounding global education—or the lack thereof. 

"Around the world, 61 million children of elementary school age are denied an education and almost 202 million adolescents are without access to a junior or high school," the Global Citizen website reads. "Nearly 75 million children have seen their education disrupted by conflict and natural disaster and 61 million of those are currently out of school."

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Xposure / AKM-GSI

In addition to the trio of megawatt performers, Usher, Coldplay's Chris Martin, who is the creative director of the festival, and Ellie Goulding are also scheduled to appear as special guest performers.

The hosting lineup is just as famous as the performers that have been handpicked to sing. Chelsea Handler, Oscar nominee Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness, Neil Patrick Harris, Quantico's Priyanka Chopra, Salma Hayek and Late Night's Seth Meyers

"The impact this organization continues to deliver for the world's poor is tremendous," the Jackman's said in a statement for the festival. "We can't wait to see the tens of thousands of activists who took action and showed up for extreme poverty celebrating their achievements on the lawn of Central Park!"

The festival, which was founded in 2012, is a non-profit project aimed at eliminated global poverty within the next 14 years. Since tickets to the concert can't be bought, visit the Global Citizen's website to learn more about the handful of ways you can "take action" and win free tickets to this year's performance on Sept. 24 in Central Park. Hurry! There are already 26,000 people and counting on Facebook eager to attend in honor of such a worthy cause and stellar night. 

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