PHOTO GALLERY: 24 HOURS OF PEACE 2026 (The visual story of Halsey and Market Streets taking center stage)
24 Hrs. of Peace is more than a festival—it is a movement that brings people together from Newark and across the country around a shared message of love, peace, purpose, and unity," said Deputy Mayor of Public Safety LaKeesha Eure.
Summer is over, but the unmatched energy, culture, and collective love generated in downtown Newark are still reverberating across the city.
Hosted by Mayor Ras J. Baraka, the 16th annual 24 Hrs. of Peace took over Halsey and Market Streets, transforming the core of Brick City into a sanctuary of music, healing, and community unity. Sponsored by the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery (OVPTR) and the Brick City Peace Collective (BCPC), the gathering proved once again what happens when a city chooses peace, builds it together, and lives it out loud.
24 Hours of Peace 2026 | Photos provided by the City of Newark Press Office
Hip-Hop as a Catalyst for Healing
Founded 16 years ago by Mayor Baraka when he served as council member for the South Ward, 24 Hrs. of Peace started on a small stage towed into an open lot, powered by a car battery. Today, it stands as a transformational tradition that centers hip-hop culture to drive honest dialogue around nonviolent advocacy, trauma recovery, and neighborhood unity.
24 Hours of Peace 2026 | Photos provided by the City of Newark Press Office
"This is the 16th year of a transformational tradition in Newark that places hip hop as a fulcrum to raise honesty, free communication, non-violent advocacy, healing, and peace," said Mayor Ras J. Baraka. "Music unites us and becomes an even deeper part of our city’s identity with this event each year – and I look forward to creating good vibes together and continuing to share that energy."
24 Hours of Peace 2026 | Photos provided by the City of Newark Press Office
Serving as the grand finale of Newark’s Peace Week, the festival offers residents direct access to vital city resources, health services, and community organizations. That holistic public health approach is yielding historic progress: according to Major Cities Chiefs Association data, Newark recorded a 64.7% drop in homicides during the first half of 2026—the steepest decline among 66 major U.S. law enforcement agencies.
24 Hours of Peace 2026 | Photos provided by the City of Newark Press Office
Homegrown Talent & Iconic Stages
Co-hosted by Newark Chief of Staff Amiri Baraka, Jr. and hip-hop artist Hakim Green, the event bridges generations of talent. Alongside national headliners, 30 local acts were chosen from hundreds of auditions to take the stage and shine in the spotlight.
24 Hours of Peace 2026 | Photos provided by the City of Newark Press Office
The Living Spirit of Newark
The energy on Halsey and Market Streets is proof that peace isn't just an abstract idea—it's a continuous practice built daily by residents, street teams, local organizers, and city leadership.
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