On September 27 (local time), BLACKPINK’s Rosé made history with her first-ever solo festival appearance at the Global Citizen Festival, held on the Great Lawn of Central Park in New York City. The event drew an audience of over 60,000 and featured a star-packed lineup headlined by Shakira and Cardi B, with Raosé joining as one of the guest performers.
The Global Citizen Festival has long been a platform that merges music with activism, and Rosé’s presence shows her expanding influence on global stages. Her performance arrived during a break in BLACKPINK’s ongoing “DEADLINE” world tour. This gave fans a rare opportunity to see her as a soloist in a festival setting.
This year’s festival saw some of the biggest names in music come together. Shakira and Cardi B headlined the event, with Cardi stepping in for the originally scheduled The Weeknd.
Other performers included rising stars like Tyla, Ayra Starr, Mariah the Scientist, Camilo, and Elyanna. The night was hosted by Hugh Jackman, alongside co-hosts Bill Nye, Adam Lambert, Danai Gurira, and Liza Koshy.
Global Citizen’s chief music officer Katie Hill emphasized Rosé’s impact on the international stage, calling her “one of the most influential artists of this generation, bridging languages and cultures through the universal power of music.”
Her appearance built on the legacy of past K-pop performers at the festival. BTS’s Jungkook made waves in 2023, and BLACKPINK’s Lisa delivered her own performance in 2024.
Rosé’s four-song set blended her solo discography with a special tribute cover that captured the festival’s spirit. She opened with an acoustic version of “APT.,” her hit collaboration with Bruno Mars and the pre-release single from her debut album Rosie. She followed with “Two Years,” a fan favorite that highlighted her sharp vocal delivery. In one of the evening’s most talked-about moments, she performed a cover of The Cranberries’ classic “Linger,” which had the entire crowd singing along.
To close her set, Rosé delivered a moving rendition of “Toxic Till The End” x “Wonderwall.” She incorporated a few lines from Oasis’s “Wonderwall” into her performance of “Toxic Till The End,” something she had also done earlier on The Howard Stern Show.
The Global Citizen Festival is known for pairing star-studded performances with social advocacy. This year’s campaign focused on expanding renewable energy access across Africa, protecting the Amazon rainforest, and funding global education initiatives. The festival’s format allows fans to earn free tickets by taking action through the Global Citizen app or website.
For those unable to attend in person, the festival was streamed worldwide on platforms such as YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music,
Rosé’s Global Citizen appearance came shortly after another major solo milestone: her return to late-night television. Earlier this week, she appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, marking her first solo appearance on the program since promoting her album in December 2024.
She also appeared on The Howard Stern show and played the demo version of “APT.” sans Bruno Mars. In addition, the 28-year-old singer impressed audiences with covers of “Norman F**king Rockwell” and “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.”
Meanwhile, BLACKPINK will be back on stage soon, following their short break in August after the Wembley shows. Their Asia tour picks up next month with concerts in Taiwan on October 18–19 and Bangkok on October 24–26, before the release of their new album in November.
