NEWARK, NJ — What does peace look like in a city? In Newark, the community is taking its future into its own hands, celebrating healing through a powerful fusion of art, music, and collective action. This is the heartbeat of 24HRS OF PEACE, an annual 24-hour festival returning August 28–29 to Halsey and Market in downtown Newark.
Running from 6 p.m. Friday through 6 p.m. Saturday, the free, family-friendly event serves as a vital gathering point for national music artists, local talent, community organizations, and wellness professionals. It is a full day dedicated to culture, connection, and violence prevention, proving that a city can evolve its story through unity.
A Different Kind of Victory Lap
Newark has significant progress to celebrate. The city recorded 31 homicides in 2025, its lowest total since 1953. So far in 2026, the city has seen just six homicides, a 64.7% decline compared to the same period in 2025. These numbers represent lives saved and families spared from grief. Co-founder Hakim Green is at the forefront of this mobilization, helping to build the necessary community infrastructure to sustain this momentum.
Rather than treating violence prevention as a bureaucratic task, the festival embeds the conversation directly into the culture. Music becomes the meeting point for this transformation.
Hip-Hop as a Catalyst for Change
The 2026 lineup highlights the deep connection between hip-hop and the Newark community. Performers include Memphis Bleek, Freeway, MC Lyte, DMC, Coi Leray, Ron G, DJ Doo Wop, and DJ Lil Taj. The event also features the highly anticipated Tsu Surf and Arsonal Battle for Peace. These artists are using their influence to facilitate a conversation that extends far beyond mere entertainment.
Beyond the Stage: A Holistic Approach
The festival experience is intentionally multifaceted. Beyond the music, attendees can participate in yoga, health and wellness programming, gospel performances, and poetry readings. Wellness sessions featuring NDO Champ, Haqqi Mu, and Nikki D emphasize that violence prevention is as much about mental and physical well-being as it is about safety on the streets.
This event serves as the grand finale of Newark’s Peace Week Initiative (August 21–29), which includes a variety of community-focused events:
- August 21: Ras Baraka’s Family Meeting
- August 24: Back to School BBQ
- August 26: Senior Village
- August 26: Bike for Peace
- August 27: Memorial Vigil
- August 28–29: 24HRS OF PEACE
Since its inception in 2010, 24HRS OF PEACE has grown into a major tradition, drawing over 20,000 attendees annually. Produced through a partnership between the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery (OVPTR), the Urban League of Essex County, the Brick City Peace Collective, and 24HRSOFPEACE INC., the festival proves that when a community gathers without fear, it can imagine—and build—something better.