City of Philadelphia and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker announce a FREE New Year’s Eve Concert and Fireworks Show on the Parkway

The FREE New Year's Eve Concert and Fireworks will feature performances by LL COOL J and special guests Philadelphia's DJ Jazzy Jeff, Adam Blackstone, Dorothy, and Technician the DJ.

(PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 12, 2025) The City of Philadelphia and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker present a free New Year's Eve concert and fireworks display to usher in America's Birthday on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia on Wednesday, December 31, featuring Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and two-time Grammy® Award-winning Hip-Hop icon LL COOL J with special guests Philadelphia's own GRAMMY Award, American Music Award, and NAACP Image Award winner DJ Jazzy Jeff, and Emmy Award winning music director and Grammy Award winning writer Adam Blackstone, hard rockers Dorothy, and Technician The DJ.

"Philadelphia is thrilled to welcome everyone to our vibrant city as we celebrate New Year's Eve and kick off the 250th anniversary of our nation's independence. This free concert and fireworks showcase the incredible spirit of our community and the cultural legacy that Philadelphia embodies," said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. "We are honored to have LL COOL J as our headliner, bringing his unmatched talent and energy to The Parkway, with special guests DJ Jazzy Jeff, Adam Blackstone and Dorothy. Join us for Philly's first ever New Year's Eve outdoor concert as we kick off 2026 in America's Birthplace-this is truly the place to start our celebration of this historic anniversary!"

"Philly, don't call it a comeback. We've got unfinished business. Shout out to the Mayor for the invitation! Meet me on the Oval this New Year's Eve as we bring in 2026-live," said LL COOL J.

The concert will begin at 8 p.m. and gates will open at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. The fireworks display will begin at midnight.

The concert and fireworks celebration is being produced by ESM Productions of Philadelphia.

ABOUT LL COOL J

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, two-time Grammy® Award-winning Hip-Hop icon, Kennedy Center Honoree, actor, author, NAACP Image Award winner, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder and CEO of Rock The Bells, LL COOL J has created one of the most multifaceted careers and brands in entertainment and continues to display his wide range of talents with every project.

Four decades after he first burst onto the scene, LL COOL J continues his vibrant, trailblazing career. LL COOL J helped elevate the burgeoning rap and Hip-Hop scene of the 80's, which developed into the musical and cultural phenomenon that is Hip-Hop as we know it today. Of LL's many contributions to the culture, he also is credited with the creation of the acronym "G.O.A.T." - short for "Greatest of All Time."

First introduced to the world in 1984 as a Def Jam Recordings' flagship artist, LL is the first rap artist to amass ten consecutive platinum-plus selling albums, including his critically-acclaimed debut album, RADIO, and the international, timeless anthem and album of the same name, MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT. LL's hit singles include "Going Back to Cali," "Doin' It," "Around the Way Girl," "Loungin'", "Headsprung," and Hip-Hop's first rap ballad "I Need Love."

Last year LL made his latest artistic contribution and continued elevating Hip-Hop culture after over a decade long hiatus with the September 6th, 2024 release of his highly anticipated new album, THE FORCE (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy), executive produced by Hip-Hop innovator and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Q-Tip, of A Tribe Called Quest. With this album, LL helped celebrate the 40th anniversary of the creation of Def Jam Recordings and became the first Hip-Hop artist to chart Billboard entries across five decades. It was also just announced that LL is among the nominees for the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame class.

In December 2017, LL became the first rapper to earn the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor, which is America's highest achievement for any performer. In addition, he received his star on the world-renowned Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 21, 2016.

In March 2018, LL launched his own SiriusXM timeless Hip-Hop channel entitled "LL COOL J's Rock The Bells Radio," garnering millions of daily listeners. The channel features a wide range of innovative and timeless Hip-Hop content, music, interviews, and in-depth retrospectives curated, programmed, and presented by the award-winning artist himself. Since founding the radio station, Rock The Bells has developed into a global platform that has become the preeminent voice for timeless Hip-Hop. Rock The Bells focuses on content, commerce and experiences that honor the CULTURE and the core elements of Hip-Hop - MCs, DJs, Breakers, Graffiti Artists - and more. Rock The Bells hosted its inaugural eponymous music festival in Queens, New York in August 2022, which sold out back-to-back years in 2022 and 2023, where LL headlined both festivals.

LL COOL J was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on October 30, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio for the 36th annual induction ceremony. Considered by most as the crowning achievement for one's musical career, the ceremony was a celebration of LL's lasting impact on Hip-Hop and the music industry.

In Summer 2023, LL COOL J, Rock The Bells, and Live Nation Urban kicked off his first arena tour in 30 years across North America called The F.O.R.C.E. Tour, inspired by the name of LL's latest album. Living up to the acronym for Frequencies of Real Creative Energy, the lineup for this tour was personally curated by LL COOL J. Building off their amazing performance together on the GRAMMY® Awards earlier that year celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop, all dates featured collaborative live performances with preeminent Award-winning Hip-Hop band The Roots, the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff, and DJ Z-Trip.

LL hosted the GRAMMY® Awards for an unprecedented five years in a row from 2012-2016, for which he earned rave reviews. In addition, he hosted and produced the GRAMMY® Nominations Concert Live Special for seven years and has also been a presenter at the Emmy®, Golden Globe®, and SAG Awards. Most recently, at the end of 2023, LL helped produce CBS' live concert special A GRAMMY Salute To 50 Years Of Hip-Hop, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award.

LL has always been an avid philanthropist involved in numerous causes, including literacy for kids as well as music and arts programs in schools. Founded in 2005, LL's charity "Jump & Ball" - which takes place every August in his hometown of Queens, New York - aims to give back to his local community by offering an athletic and team building program dedicated to bringing wholesome fun to young people.

Between being a musician, actor, philanthropist and entrepreneur, LL COOL J is the ultimate multi-hyphenate whose career continues to expand and where he remains one of the most beloved and innovative brands in entertainment. He currently resides in both New York and Los Angeles.

ABOUT ADAM BLACKSTONE

Adam Blackstone is not only a multi-faceted bass player, musician, Emmy Award Winning Music Director and Grammy award winning writer, he is the musical mastermind behind the live shows of many of today's biggest artists. He has served as the Musical Director for acts such as Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Maroon 5, Eminem and recently he cultivated the Super Bowl 54 Halftime Show alongside Shakira & J-Lo.

ABOUT DJ JAZZY JEFF

DJ Jazzy Jeff is a renowned DJ, music producer, and entrepreneur with a thriving career that spans more than three decades. Jeff's rich legacy in music includes a DMC Championship, and multiple GRAMMY Award, American Music Award, and NAACP Image Award wins and nominations. Introduced to the world as one half of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, his accomplishments extend beyond his multi-platinum, Grammy-winning collaborations with Will Smith. Notable is his acclaimed production company, A Touch of Jazz, credited for work with Michael Jackson, Jill Scott, Darius Rucker, and more. In 2015, he founded the PLAYLIST Retreat, an invitation-only event that brings artists together to inspire, motivate, and fuel collaboration. Prior to 2020, DJ Jazzy Jeff performed all over the globe and chronicled his travels in his Vinyl Destination web series. And when a global pandemic forced the world into lockdown, Jeff moved the party, literally, in-house with his signature livestream series, The Magnificent House Party.

ABOUT DOROTHY

Projecting a full-bodied voice with every inch of her being, Dorothy Martin kindles a spark of hope into a flame as bright as the sun itself. The Budapest-born maverick singer, songwriter, performer, and front woman of the Los Angeles-based eponymous band DOROTHY, brings gusto, grit, and glory back to hard rock. Dorothy exudes superstar-size confidence coupled with the quiet resolve of an old school Western anti-hero. She has unassumingly blazed her own trail with sold out shows, major collaborations, and over 1 billion streams already in the rearview. DOROTHY arrived with the force of a hurricane back in 2016, serving up the full-length debut ROCKISDEAD. Surging on DSPs, single "Raise Hell" has reeled in over 104 million global streams to date followed by "Wicked Ones" with 98 million global streams to date. The band organically attracted a diehard global fanbase with their second and third albums: '28 Day in the Valley' [2018] and 'Gifts From The Holy Ghost' [2022]. KERRANG! hailed the latter as "a hot-blooded rock 'n' roll record through and through," and RIFF raved, "'Holy Ghost' serves as a triumphant battle cry and a return to form." Outburn, perhaps, put it best, "it's her most bombastic and gloriously, victorious rock and roll work yet." Simultaneously, Dorothy took flight alongside other genre mainstays; equally at home on a track with Slash and features with Nita Strauss of Alice Cooper and Staind. However, Dorothy's vision really catches fire on the group's fourth full-length album, 'The Way' [Roc Nation], introduced by the lead single "Mud", accompanied by standout single "Tombstone Town" [feat. Slash].