The Best Photos From Global Citizen 2018 Festivals and Events

Global Citizens came together across the globe in 2018 to take action and envision a world without extreme poverty. The year started off strong with Global Citizen Live events in London and Vancouver in the spring, showcasing performances by talented singers like Emeli Sandé and The Elwins.

Take Action: This Inequality Cannot Go On. Ask the World’s Richest People to Help End Extreme Poverty

In September, the Global Citizen Festival in New York brought together activists and fans of Shawn Mendes, Cardi B, Janelle Monáe, The Weeknd, and Janet Jackson in Central Park. Tens of thousands of attendees sprawled across the Great Lawn as major gender equality and education commitments were made.

To top off the year, thousands attended the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 in Johannesburg, South Africa, and celebrated Nelson Mandela’s legacy at the end of his centenary year. A plane flyover kicked off the festivities at FNB stadium, and Trevor Noah hosted the action-packed day, which included moving words from world leaders and influential figures like Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg and Oprah Winfrey. The crowd’s energy was contagious as they cheered and danced to Beyoncé, JAY-Z, Ed Sheeran, Tiwa Savage, Cassper Nyovest, and other artists between impactful speeches delivered by world leaders, the Mandela family, and more.

See the best photos that captured these highlights below.

Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100

Mandela100_MainEntrance_MpumeleloMacuForGlobalCitizen-4.jpg — A general view of the FNB Stadium before the start of the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Mpumelelo Macu for Global Citizen

ALSO READ: 10 Entertainment Events That May Still Hold In The First Quarter of 2021

Mandela100_Crowd_GulshanKhanForGlobalCitizen_0201 (1).jpg — *Guests in the audience during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Gulshan Khan for Global Citizen*

Mandela100Crowd_BarryChristiansonForGlobalCitizen-41.jpg — *Attendees dance in the audience during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Barry Christianson for Global Citizen*

*Soweto Gospel Choir perform during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen*

Mandela100_ShoMadjozi_GulshanKhanForGlobalCitizen_007.jpg — *Sho Madjozi performs during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Gulshan Khan for Global Citizen*

*Usher performs during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Global Citizen*

Mandela100_Pharrell_JodiWindvogelForGlobalCitizen_010.jpg — *Pharrell Williams performs during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Jodi Windvogel for Global Citizen*

The Global Citizen plane does a flyover over FNB Stadium during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen

Mandela100_TrevorNoah_GulshanKhanForGlobalCitizen_002.jpg — *Trevor Noah speaks onstage during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Gulshan Khan for Global Citizen*

Mandela100Crowd_BarryChristiansonForGlobalCitizen-26.jpg — *Attendees cheer in the audience during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Barry Christianson for Global Citizen*

*Attendees at the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Gulshan Khan for Global Citizen*

Danai Gurira speaks on stage during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Global Citizen

Mandela100_TiwaSavage_JodiWindvogelForGlobalCitizen_002.jpg — *Jay Breeze and Tiwa Savage perform during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Jodi Windvogel for Global Citizen*

*Tumi Sisulu (C) speaks onstage during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen*

*D’banj performs during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen*

Zama Mandela (C) and other members of the Mandela family speak on stage during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen

Activation Images-193.jpg — *Guests in the audience during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Kgomotso Neto for Global Citizen*

Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg (R) presents Graca Machel (L) with the inaugural Global Citizen Prize for World Leader, on stage during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: emal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen

*WizKid performs during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Gulshan Khan for Global Citizen*

*Ed Sheeran performs during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Global Citizen*

Mandela100_CassperNyovest_MpumeleloMacuForGlobalCitizen-65.jpg — *Cassper Nyovest performs during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Mpumelelo Macu for Global Citizen*

*Oprah Winfrey speaks on stage during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Global Citizen*

*A general view of the FNB Stadium during the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at FNB Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image: Michelly Rall/Getty Images for Global Citizen*

Global Citizen Festival 2018 in NYC

*The Weeknd performs onstage during the 2018 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park on September 29, 2018 in New York City. Image: Mengwen Cao for Global Citizen*

*Janelle Monáe performs onstage during the 2018 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park on September 29, 2018 in New York City. Image: Kholood Eid for Global Citizen*

*Attendees cheer in the audience during the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park on September 28, 2018 in New York City. Image: Kholood Eid for Global Citizen*

*Attendees at the Global Citizen Festival 2018 in Central Park on September 29, 2018 in New York City. Image: Kholood Eid for Global Citizen*

*Shawn Mendes performs onstage during the 2018 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park on September 29, 2018 in New York City. Image: Mengwen Cao for Global Citizen*

*Cardi B performs onstage during the 2018 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park on September 29, 2018 in New York City. Image: Mengwen Cao for Global Citizen*

GCF18_Crowd_MohamedSadekForGlobalCitizen_038 copy.jpg — *A little girl reacts to a performance at the Global Citizen Festival 2018 in Central Park on September 29, 2018 in New York City. Image: Mohamed Sadek for Global Citizen*

An attendee poses for a photograph at the Global Citizen Festival 2018 in Central Park on September 29, 2018 in New York City.
Image: Kholood Eid for Global Citizen

Shawn Mendes performs onstage during the 2018 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park on September 29, 2018 in New York City.
Image: Kholood Eid for Global Citizen

Janet Jackson performs onstage during the 2018 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park on September 29, 2018 in New York City.
Image: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Global Citizen

GC Week, New York City

GCWeek_YourVoiceYourVoteMaegan Gindi for Global Citizen_014.jpg Image: Maegan Gindi for Global Citizen

Robert De Niro and Rachel Brosnahan speak to the crowd gathered at the Maine Monument in Central Park.
Image: Maegan Gindi for Global Citizen

Attendees listen to the speakers at the ‘Your Vote is Your Voice!’ rally in Central Park.
Image: Maegan Gindi for Global Citizen

GC_Week_Riverside_Jeenah Moon for Global Citizen_067.jpg Kimbra performs onstage with The Howard Gospel Choir during Global Citizen Week: The Spirit Of A Movement at Riverside Church.
Image: Jeenah Moon for Global Citizen

GC_Week_Riverside_Jeenah Moon for Global Citizen_014.jpg Keyon Harrold performs onstage during Global Citizen Week: The Spirit Of A Movement at Riverside Church.
Image: Jeenah Moon for Global Citizen

Naomi Wadler accepts the Legend Award onstage during Global Citizen Week: The Spirit Of A Movement at Riverside Church on Sept. 22, 2018 in New York City.
Image: Noam Galai/Getty Images for Global Citizen

GCWeek_Apollo_Jeenah Moon for Global Citizen_005.jpg Speakers onstage during Global Citizen Week: At What Cost? at The Apollo Theater on September 23, 2018 in New York City.
Image: Jeenah Moon for Global Citizen