MUMBAI: Music acts like Pearl Jam, Beyonce, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay will be headlining the 2015 Global Citizen Festival on 26 September in New York. It is a free entry event which will be held in Central Park, New York City. The festival will coincide with the launch of the United Nations' new Global goals initiative designed to fight inequality, protect the planet and end extreme poverty by the year 2030.

Speaking on the festival, The Global Poverty Project CEO Hugh Evans said, "The 2015 Global Citizen Festival will serve as a critical moment to shed light on the world's agenda for the next 15 years. We are now at a moment where we can eliminate extreme poverty by 2030, but this cannot be achieved by the words of politicians alone. The Global Citizen Festival serves to channel the unwavering call for action from global citizens who want to see equality, change and justice reach those who need it most.”

Pearl Jam rhythm guitarist Stone Gossard said, "We hope Pearl Jam fans will sign up to become Global Citizens — not just to earn tickets to the show — but to be part of a movement that encourages leaders of nations with the greatest wealth to apply aid, trade and governance policies in support of nations and communities in the greatest need. People living on less than $1.50-a-day deserve the opportunity to lift themselves up out of extreme poverty."

"I am honoured to be a part of the Global Citizen Festival," said Beyonce. She further added, "It has always stood for improving the lives of people everywhere, but this year is especially rewarding as we all join focuses and utilise our talents for one goal: to end extreme poverty globally."

Multiple Brit Award winner Ed Sheeran said, "It is at once a great honour and very humbling to participate in the Global Citizen Festival. I look forward to sharing the stage with such an amazing line-up of artists in an effort to raise awareness, educate others, and work toward the goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030. I truly believe it's possible if we all work together."

Coldplay’s vocalist, Chris Martin, who was recently in India for the Global Citizen project, said, "We are so proud to be playing this year's Global Citizen Festival. We love the Global Citizen movement and we love opening for Beyonce so this ticks both boxes." Martin also will serve as a curator of the Global Citizen Festival.

Acts that have played at previous editions of the festival include Jay-Z, No Doubt, Fun., Carrie Underwood, The Roots, Tiesto, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Alicia Keys, Kings of Leon, Foo Fighters, The Black Keys, John Legend, and Band of Horses among others.

For the second consecutive year, American network MSNBC will serve as the media partner of the Global Citizen Festival. The Festival will be produced by Emmy Award-winning producer, Ken Ehrlich, known for producing the Grammy Awards. YouTube will serve as the festival’s worldwide digital streaming partner and will feature a special livestream of the full concert at YouTube.com/GlobalCitizen, presented by T-Mobile. iHeartRadio will digitally stream the audio of the Festival on iHeartRadio.com and through its app. TIDAL, Jay-Z’s music streaming platform, will also digitally stream the audio of the Festival on the website as well as the app.