Bruce Springsteen Honored with 2026 Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award

When Bono walked onstage at New York's BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center on June 13 to present Bruce Springsteen with the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award, he began his speech by winding the clock back to 1975. He was 15 then.

Bono recalled how Springsteen's music and Patti Smith's influenced him, and Springsteen later took the stage to screams of 'Bruuuuce,' and sat down next to Bono for a brief conversation that touched on the legacy of Harry Belafonte and the tense political situation in America.

Patti Smith came out with her longtime band member Tony Shanahan and dedicated a song to the children globally, then played 'People Have the Power' with Bono and Springsteen.

The show ended with Springsteen alone on stage with an acoustic guitar, singing a slow, tender rendition of 'Land of Hope and Dreams.'