Bruce Springsteen was honored with the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award during a special event at the Tribeca Festival, recognizing his decades-long involvement in social causes through music and public advocacy.
The evening opened with remarks from Tribeca co-founder Robert De Niro, who praised Springsteen’s influence and spoke about the singer’s public engagement on social issues. The award presentation was led by Bono, who joined Springsteen for a conversation covering music, activism, and their long friendship.
One of the night’s lighter moments came when Bono recalled asking Springsteen to allow the use of his 2007 song Girls in Their Summer Clothes for a Gap campaign connected to the (RED) initiative supporting HIV/AIDS programs. Springsteen had declined at the time but joked during the event that he should have agreed, offering an apology to Bono and drawing laughs from the audience.
During his acceptance remarks, Springsteen dedicated the honor to citizens in Minneapolis, Portland, and Los Angeles, referencing communities that he said had stood up against federal overreach. His comments reflected themes that were also present throughout his recently completed Land of Hope and Dreams tour.
Patti Smith later joined Springsteen and Bono on stage during the celebration. The event concluded with Springsteen performing an acoustic version of Land of Hope and Dreams, bringing the evening to a close with one of the songs most closely tied to his message of hope and civic engagement.
