Getting tickets to the annual Global Citizen Festival can be a competitive process, but with some strategic planning, you can greatly improve your chances of claiming those coveted spots. The festival brings together world-renowned musicians, activists, politicians and influencers to promote social justice initiatives around the world. If you want to be part of this impactful event, here is everything you need to know about scoring Global Citizen tickets.
What is Global Citizen and the Global Citizen Festival?
Global Citizen is an international advocacy organization that aims to eradicate extreme poverty around the world by 2030. The organization mobilizes individuals to take action on various social, political and economic issues through petitions, rallies, contacting representatives and voting. Global Citizen hosts an annual music festival called the Global Citizen Festival to promote its mission and motivate fans to get involved.
The Global Citizen Festival is a free event held in Central Park in New York City each September. It features performances from major musical acts interspersed with speeches and video packages about Global Citizen’s initiatives. Past performers have included headliners like Coldplay, Beyoncé, Pearl Jam, Ed Sheeran, Pharrell Williams, Green Day, and many other chart-topping acts. The festival is filmed and streamed online to reach millions of viewers worldwide.
Why do people want Global Citizen tickets?
There are several key reasons that Global Citizen Festival tickets are in such high demand each year:
- Seeing famous musical acts for free – The festival features performances by some of the top names in pop, rock and hip hop, all for free. Fans can see major headliners who would normally charge hundreds for concert tickets.
- Unique festival experience – The festival’s Central Park location and blend of music, activism and celebrity speeches creates a one-of-a-kind festival vibe.
- Getting involved with social impact – Attendees feel they are part of something bigger than just a concert. The activism focus resonates with socially-conscious fans.
- Exclusivity – Only 60,000 tickets are distributed for the event, making them highly coveted.
- Being part of a global community – The event is filmed for streaming so attendees can share the experience with millions worldwide.
For passionate music lovers and activists, scoring tickets to the Global Citizen Festival can be the chance of a lifetime. Getting to see top-billed artists for free while supporting an important cause is an extremely appealing prospect for many fans around the world.
Who can attend the Global Citizen Festival?
Tickets to the Global Citizen Festival are only available to Global Citizens who have earned enough “Global Citizen points” on the Global Citizen app or website. Anyone can sign up to be a Global Citizen for free. But you must take sufficient actions on the app, like signing petitions, contacting government officials and watching educational videos, in order to unlock the ability to claim festival tickets.
Global Citizen wants festival goers to be fully engaged members who are informed about the organization’s causes. Attendees shouldn’t just be casual fans of the musical acts. They should be activists committed to exempting global poverty. Global Citizens can begin taking actions on the app year-round to build up their points so they’ll be ready claim tickets when the next festival approaches.
When do Global Citizen tickets go on sale?
Global Citizen usually begins announcing the musical lineup for the festival in May or June of each year. The exact ticket on-sale date will be announced closer to the festival date, which is always in late September. Typically, verified Global Citizens can start redeeming their action points for tickets sometime in July or August.
Here are the key dates for recent Global Citizen Festivals:
Year | Festival Date | Lineup Announcement | Ticket On-Sale Date |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | September 24 | June 25 | July 26 |
2021 | September 25 | June 28 | August 11 |
2019 | September 28 | July 30 | August 20 |
So in general, you can expect to start redeeming points for tickets around 1-2 months prior to each festival. Mark your calendars for July/August to get prepared.
How do I earn Global Citizen points?
To earn points on Global Citizen, you must complete various “Actions” listed on the app and website. These include activities like:
- Signing petitions – Petition campaigns are constantly updated on relevant social justice issues. You earn points for adding your name.
- Contacting government officials – You can instantly email, call, tweet or send messages to politicians about Global Citizen campaigns.
- Watching videos – There are educational videos available to build your knowledge on causes.
- Sharing on social media – You can share Global Citizen content to spread the word and earn points.
- Attending local events – Global Citizen plans rallies and educational events across the globe.
When you complete actions, your points will be tallied on your profile. Different actions are worth different point amounts. For example, signing one petition may be 10 points, while calling a representative may be 50 points. Gathering enough points makes you eligible for free festival tickets.
How many points do I need for Global Citizen Festival tickets?
The number of points required for festival tickets varies from year-to-year based on demand, but is typically in the range of 3,000-7,000 points. Global Citizen wants attendees to be fully engaged, so you will need to have accumulated a substantial amount of activism in order to qualify for free tickets.
In 2022, Global Citizen reported that tickets required 5,000 points to claim. So using past years as a benchmark, you should aim to earn 5,000-7,000 points on the app by July/August to give yourself the best shot at tickets.
Tips for earning Global Citizen points fast
Here are some tips to help you quickly build up points on Global Citizen:
- Check the app daily – New actions are added frequently, so visit regularly.
- Focus on petitions – Signing petitions tends to be the fastest way to rack up points in bulk.
- Watch videos all the way through – Points are earned after completing videos fully.
- Share on social media – Get the word out to help drive even more actions.
- Team up – You can partner with friends and family to motivate each other.
- Attain badges – There are special badges for completing certain groups of actions that boost your points.
Spreading your activism across multiple months and issue areas will maximize your engagement on the app. Be patient but persistent and your points will accumulate over time.
How do I redeem Global Citizen points for festival tickets?
Once you have built up a sufficient number of points in your Global Citizen account (typically 5,000+), you can redeem those points for tickets when the festival ticket on-sale date arrives. Here is the process:
- Make sure you have enough points banked several weeks before the announced ticket on-sale date.
- Log in to your Global Citizen account on the app or website in early summer once the lineup is revealed.
- When the on-sale date arrives, look for the “Tickets” tab in your account.
- On the Tickets page you can redeem your points for free General Admission festival tickets while supplies last.
- Your account will show if you have qualified for tickets. Act fast, as high-demand tickets go quickly.
- If you qualify, you can claim 2 tickets and must provide details for yourself and a guest.
- Tickets will be transferred to you electronically through the Global Citizen app/website.
You can check the number of points in your account at any time. Once the ticket redemption window opens, log in and act fast to secure your spots. With enough planning and activism leading up to the festival date, you’ll be ready to claim those coveted tickets with your hard-earned points.
Can I get VIP tickets to the Global Citizen Festival?
Global Citizen does reserve some limited VIP tickets for high-level donors and partners. But for the most part, the free General Admission tickets are the only option available to claim with points.
Major corporate sponsors like Verizon, Citi, and Carat sometimes receive VIP ticket allotments to share with employees, clients and sweepstakes winners. Particularly engaged Global Citizens may also be surprised with VIP upgrades in recognition of their activism. But there is no formal VIP ticket program for general Global Citizens point holders.
All tickets distributed through the Global Citizen app points system will be for General Admission access only. But the General Admission tickets still get you access to the same star-studded lineup and main field area in Central Park. Focus on accumulating enough points for the free General Admission tickets, which provide an awesome festival experience.
What if I don’t get Global Citizen Festival tickets?
With only 60,000 tickets available in Central Park each year, supply is extremely limited for the high-demand festival. If you miss out on tickets one year, don’t get discouraged. Simply keep taking actions on Global Citizen and try again the next festival cycle. Tickets are first-come, first-served, so logging in right when the window opens is key.
You can also consider:
- Watching the live stream – The entire festival is broadcast globally on YouTube, Twitter and MSNBC.
- Attending festival events – Free admission events are held around NYC in conjunction with the festival itself.
- Joining the next event – Global Citizen hosts concerts and events year-round. Sign up for their newsletters.
- Volunteering – A limited number of festival volunteer positions are available if you want to contribute on-site.
The tickets are so limited that even dedicated Global Citizens may not get them at first. Patience and persistence in taking actions on the app will serve you well over time. With enough effort, your chance to attend will come.
What are some key tips for getting Global Citizen Festival tickets?
Here are the top tips for maximizing your chances at scoring the competitive Global Citizen Festival tickets:
- Become a Global Citizen for free – Anyone can sign up on the app or website. This puts you in position when tickets go on sale.
- Start earning points early – Take as many actions as possible, across multiple months and issue areas.
- Aim high for points – Strive for 5,000+ points to meet typical ticket thresholds.
- Redeem quickly – Log in and claim tickets instantly when the on-sale date opens.
- Bring a friend – You can claim 2 tickets with your points, so invite someone.
- Save the date – The festival is always on a Saturday in late September.
- Follow up if you don’t succeed – Keep taking actions to earn points for the next festival cycle.
With strategic preparation, activism through the app and swift ticket redemption, you can make yourself one of the thousands of everyday Global Citizens enjoying the festival experience live in Central Park!
Conclusion
Attending the star-studded Global Citizen Festival is a dream for many music and activism enthusiasts. But getting your hands on the coveted free tickets requires dedication, effort and patience. By becoming a verified Global Citizen, earning points consistently, and acting at the precise ticket on-sale moment, you can dramatically increase your chances of admission.
Plan ahead, take advantage of all point-earning actions, bring enthusiastic friends along, and don’t get discouraged if it takes more than one try. Channel your passion for social justice into ongoing activism. Before you know it, you may find yourself singing and dancing alongside your favorite artists while also supporting a meaningful global cause. With focus and commitment, an unforgettable Global Citizen Festival experience can be within your reach.