Jay-Z Headlines Roots Picnic Night One in Philly and Yolanda Adams Is Taking the Stage Tonight

Jay-Z kicked off Roots Picnic weekend with a surprise intimate pre-show Friday night at The Foundry inside the Fillmore in Philadelphia, backed by The Roots - and then headlined the main festival Saturday night to a crowd of 40,000 at Belmont Plateau. 

It marked his first performance with The Roots in over a decade, and his first major live set since joining Beyoncé at the final stop of her Cowboy Carter international tour in Paris last June. Beyoncé was spotted in the crowd again Saturday night, cheering on her husband from the front. 

Hov delivered surprise guests - all from Philly - including Meek Mill for "Dreams and Nightmares," plus a new look that sent social media into a frenzy.

But Sunday May 31 brings the moment Christian music fans will want to catch. Gospel legend Yolanda Adams joins Ledisi, Tamar Braxton, and Andra Day for a 30th anniversary tribute to the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack, curated by Adam Blackstone. For fans of inspirational music, it's one of the most powerful lineups assembled on a mainstream festival stage in years. 

Erykah Badu closes out Sunday night as headliner at Belmont Plateau, with doors open at 1 p.m. 

The 2026 Roots Picnic is live now. Tickets and info at rootspicnic.com.