Rihanna, Usher, Beyoncé, others join Jay-Z for epic NYC finale
After a major show delay, Jay-Z ended his three-night New York run in spectacular fashion, delivering a massive, star-studded concert featuring surprise appearances from Rihanna, Swizz Beatz, Jeezy, Beyoncé, Fat Joe and others.
The Grammy-winning singer took the stage for his final anniversary show at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Sunday, July 10 around 12:16 a.m.--his latest start-time yet. Prior to launching the concert, many ticketed fans were left waiting outside for hours to enter the venue.
"New York City, What's up? So, let me explain the delay to you guys," the rapper told the crowd as he finally took the stage. "It was like 10,000 people outside, and they closed all the doors. And somebody rushed the door, and they closed the door for you guys' safety and everybody's safety outside. (If there's) 10,000 people outside, I'm not going to start music, and people get trampled. I'm really sorry for the inconvenience, but I had to make sure everybody's okay. I appreciate your patience and we're going to have a good time tonight."
The final show turned into a high-powered performance that featured classics from his albums as well as a lineup of unexpected surprise guests. The set lasted until the wee hours, wrapping up around 3 a.m. ET.
Here are some of the highlights of the evening.
Rihanna performs with Jay-Z during final 30th anniversary show in New York
One of the night's biggest highlights came when Rihanna made a surprise appearance onstage. Rihanna, who last released a studio album in 2016, joined the rapper to perform "Run This Town" before she thrilled the crowd with her 2015 anthem "Bitch Better Have My Money," drawing one of the loudest reactions of the night.
Beyoncé returns to the stage with Jay-Z night 3 in New York
Beyoncé returned to the stage with Jay-Z for another surprise appearance. The Grammy-winning pair performed their 2013 hit "Drunk in Love," delivering one of the night's most unforgettable moments as the crowd erupted in cheers.
Two days prior, Beyoncé helped Jay-Z open his first 30th anniversary show in New York, as he kicked off the show with "Can't Knock the Hustle," the opening track of his 1996 debut album, "Reasonable Doubt," featuring Mary J. Blige. Beyoncé sang along to Blige's part of the song.
Jeezy, Teyana Taylor, Swizz Beatz, Usher and make surprise appearances with Jay-Z
The final night felt less like a solo concert and more like an all-star showcase, as Jay-Z welcomed a parade of special guests to the stage throughout the evening. Usher, Jeezy, Pharrell Williams, Teyana Taylor, Swizz Beatz, Clipse, The Dream, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Jermaine Dupri and several others made surprise appearances, turning the marathon performance into a celebration of his decades-spanning catalog and collaborations.
In total, Jay-Z took over the stage at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx for three highly anticipated shows in celebration of three decades in music. The Jay-Z 30 concert series commemorates the 30th anniversary of "Reasonable Doubt." It also celebrates the 25th anniversary of his sixth studio album, "The Blueprint," released Sept. 11, 2001.
The first night, July 10, celebrated "Reasonable Doubt" and featured Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, Alicia Keys and more. Saturday's concert, July 11, commemorated "The Blueprint" and included performances by Eminem, Pharrell Williams and more. Sunday's "EXTRA INNINGS" combined both shows due to high demand.
This fall, the Roc Nation founder will bring his Jay-Z 30 concert series to Los Angeles (Oct. 23) and Paris (Sept. 10). Recently, Jay-Z added a London show date to the lineup on Sept. 4, which is Beyoncé's birthday. This concert will take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and already has fans speculating whether Beyoncé might make an appearance given the significance of the date.
Follow USA TODAY Network and The Tennessean music reporter Caché McClay on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Rihanna, Usher, Beyoncé, others join Jay-Z for epic NYC finale
Reporting by Caché McClay, USA TODAY NETWORK / Nashville Tennessean
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This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 5:35 AM.