Pause the World for Peace | UN Blockchain Week 2026
International Day of Peace Concert 2026: Live and Free in Times Square
Subtitle line: 24th Annual. NYC Climate Week Kick-Off.
Short description
Six hours of live music, ceremony and global voices in the middle of Times Square, leading to a World Moment of Silence for Peace. Free, open to all, and streaming worldwide.
About this event
Once a year, Times Square stops being Times Square.
For 24 years, Good News Corporation has brought artists, faith leaders, UN Peace Ambassadors, elected officials and humanitarian organizations to the busiest intersection in the world for one purpose: a public act of peace, held in the open, free to anyone who walks up.
This year's concert runs from 2 PM to 8 PM on September 19 and opens NYC Climate Week. The afternoon is a Peace Party of calmness and celebration, building toward a World Moment of Silence for Peace. The evening turns inward with OMMM, a slower gathering of musicians, teachers and wisdom keepers centered on breath, sound and shared intention.
On the program:
A remembrance of 9/11 and the Towers of Light, with Dr. Judy Kuriansky and Rita Cosby
A tribute to Dolly Parton featuring Dionne Warwick, performing "Peace Like a River"
Woodstock Forever: Peace, Love & Hope, with Richie Havens
The HIS LIFE musical
BlingOne and K-Pop World
Katya Grineva on piano, Luna Valen, Amanda Abizaid, Georgia Fumanti, Gabrielle Garcia, Heidi Little and the WE The World Tour
Peace messages from Ringo Starr, Michael Douglas and Dr. Jane Goodall
Global Peace Poles, civic welcomes and humanitarian awards
OMMM from 5:30 PM, with the Earth Elders, Antonique Smith, Chris Deckker, Caz Coronel and the Monroe Institute, and more
The UN's call for this day is a ceasefire everywhere and unconditional acts of peace. An estimated 1.6 billion people worldwide know the International Day of Peace. This is how New York answers it.
Admission is free. No ticket required. Register here so we can tell you where to meet and what is happening when.
The details
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET
Where: Times Square, New York City
Cost: Free and open to the public
Watch live: youtube.com/goodnewsbroadcast
Rebroadcast: Monday, September 21 at 12:00 PM ET, on the UN International Day of Peace
Schedule
PART ONE: MAIN STAGE, 2:00 PM to 5:05 PM
2:00 Opening, with peace messages from Ringo Starr and Michael Douglas
2:03 Civic and interfaith welcome, with Reverend Paul Sladkus, state and borough leadership, Gary Kong, Andrew Kaen and community partners
2:11 9/11 Towers of Light remembrance, with Dr. Judy Kuriansky, Rita Cosby and Tomaczek Bednarek
2:17 Dionne Warwick, tribute to Dolly Parton, "Peace Like a River"
2:32 HIS LIFE
2:44 BlingOne and K-Pop World
3:03 Georgia Fumanti
3:10 Kamilia, Dolly Parton song
3:19 Soho Johnny presents, with Technology Dave, Gabrielle Garcia, Renee L. and an award to Dan Romano
3:33 Heidi Little and the WE The World Tour
3:41 Amanda Abizaid
3:47 Alice Liu, introduced by Ivy Ma
3:56 Dr. Jane Goodall, by video
3:57 Andreas Deutschmann, Climate Week
4:05 David Katzmire
4:10 Reid Stowe and Maxine Hoover
4:18 Kiona Foundation, with an award to a young cancer survivor
4:24 Doug
4:31 Katya Grineva, piano
4:40 BlingOne returns
4:50 Luna Valen, "Alive" and "Swept Away"
4:57 Woodstock Forever: Peace, Love & Hope, and the closing moment
PART TWO: OMMM, 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
5:30 Yogini Jaima
5:37 Rex St. Onge
5:47 The Earth Elders
5:52 Rebecca Irby, UN
5:58 Nicole Gibson
6:07 Antonique Smith
6:18 Chris Deckker
6:29 Aaron Ableman
6:40 Alenka Slavinec
6:51 Love, Peace, Harmony with Ancient Youth
7:02 Caz Coronel and the Monroe Institute
7:23 Reachel Singh and Vinay Vyas
7:53 Closing
Lineup and times subject to change.
Know before you go
The concert is outdoors in Times Square and free to attend. Come for an hour or stay all six.
Arrive early for the opening and again before the Woodstock Forever finale.
Can't be there? Watch live on the Good News Broadcast YouTube channel, or catch the rebroadcast September 21 at noon.
Volunteers are needed. If you can give a few hours, reply on this page or reach out through pausetheworldforpeace.org.
Good News Corporation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, established 2002. Donations keep this concert free.ace initiative.