Shakira, Cardi B Take Center Stage at Global Citizen Festival in Central Park

Shakira headlined the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park on Saturday, delivering a high-energy, highly choreographed set that underscored the event’s star power as Cardi B also performed on the same bill. The Colombian pop icon treated the audience to a show that showcased her vocal prowess and enduring stage stamina, keeping the crowd engaged with a mix of familiar hits and high-tempo dance moves.

Wearing a sheer bodysuit that highlighted her sculpted silhouette, Shakira moved with the tempo and teased the crowd with a hip-swinging, flirtatious groove that echoed her platinum-era routines. She danced with two muscular male backup dancers, weaving between them as she performed and sparking a chorus of cheers as she remixed some of her signature choreography. Throughout the performance, Shakira’s fiery curls framed her face as she commanded the stage with the same energy that has defined her nearly three-decade career.

Cardi B followed later on the bill, displaying a blossoming baby bump in a fitted mahogany top paired with maternity jeans and a luxurious red wig. The rapper, who recently announced she is expecting her fourth child, treated the crowd to a set that blended high fashion with high-octane performance energy. Cardi has publicly discussed her pregnancy in recent weeks while continuing to chart new music and tour ambitions, including plans to perform in February while the baby is due.

The performance arrived amid broader personal headlines surrounding Cardi B. Reports circulated in the lead-up to the show about a paternity dispute involving her boyfriend Stefon Diggs, with Cardi using the moment to focus the spotlight on her music and stage presence. In addition to the pregnancy news, Cardi has previously discussed past cosmetic procedures and surgery, including a period when she had buttock injections removed and indicated she would not seek further augmentation. She has also described balancing motherhood with touring and rehearsals, saying she intends to keep performing through the pregnancy and steadily returning to her routine after the baby arrives.

Beyond the headlining duo, the Global Citizen lineup included Tyla, Ayra Starr, Mariah the Scientist and Elyanna, all contributing acts that helped to anchor a show attendees described as a blend of pop, R&B and international sounds. The festival has become a platform for artists to perform in front of large audiences while supporting charitable initiatives, a mission that organizers emphasized in communications leading up to the event.

As the evening progressed, attendees were treated to a mix of well-known hits and newer material, with production elements designed to keep the energy high through late-night skies over Manhattan. The crowd’s reaction reflected a global audience tuned in to contemporary pop culture moments as much as to the philanthropic goals of Global Citizen. The performances reflected a contemporary moment where celebrity, music and social advocacy intersect, with both Shakira and Cardi B using the stage to project confidence, artistry and resilience.

Overall, the Central Park event delivered a snapshot of modern pop’s reach, pairing legacy acts with current chart-toppers and maintaining a party-like atmosphere that aligned with Global Citizen’s mission to blend entertainment with social messaging. The show’s success appeared to hinge on the charisma and stamina of its headliners, supported by a lineup designed to showcase a range of voices from around the world.