Essence Festival

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Essence Festival Join this summer for our annual celebration July 4-6 2025 ✨ https://www.essence.com/essencefestival2023/

The mics were on. The conversations were better.At the inaugural ESSENCE Creator & Podcast Festival, Black creators, pod...
10/23/2026

The mics were on. The conversations were better.

At the inaugural ESSENCE Creator & Podcast Festival, Black creators, podcasters and storytellers came together in the City of New Orleans to connect, collaborate and take conversations beyond the timeline.

From live podcast tapings to conversations with some of Black culture’s most influential voices, ESSENCE Festival created space for emerging and established talent to build community, share their stories and make connections that extend far beyond the weekend.

And the impact didn’t stop there. With 208 million creator views, the stories and moments created at ESSENCE Festival reached screens, timelines and group chats around the world.

Because investing in Black creators means investing in the people shaping where our culture goes next.

Opportunity should never come with a price tag.At ESSENCE Festival of Culture®, the Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF) b...
10/20/2026

Opportunity should never come with a price tag.

At ESSENCE Festival of Culture®, the Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF) brought opportunity directly to the community through its free Job Fair, connecting job seekers with employers, career resources and pathways to what’s next.

With more than 25 local employers participating, attendees had the chance to make meaningful connections, explore career opportunities and access training programs, all at no cost. For some, those connections led to jobs and training opportunities on the spot.

Because the impact of ESSENCE Festival goes beyond what happens on stage. It’s about opening doors, creating access and making sure the opportunities we build together last long after the weekend ends.

10/19/2026

We’re still here.

If we’re talking songs that feel like fall, Brandy’s “When You Touch Me” is at the top of the list. Feels like a warm hug as the temperatures start to drop.

And this live performance? Yeah, we’ll be coming back to it all cozy season.

Catch the full ESSENCE Fest performance on our YouTube at the link in bio!

10/19/2026

We’re still here.

Did somebody say songs that feel like fall? Because Brandy’s “When You Touch Me” feels like a warm hug, especially as the temperatures start to drop.

And this live performance? Yeah, we’ll be coming back to it all cozy season.

Catch the full performance on our YouTube https://youtu.be/NAO7t0NDmoI?si=l0lpM4-ws4CnMdZh

The family showed up. Year after year, ESSENCE Festival of Culture® brings generations of Black people together in the C...
10/15/2026

The family showed up.

Year after year, ESSENCE Festival of Culture® brings generations of Black people together in the City of New Orleans. From first-timers to familiar faces who never miss a year, the community keeps growing, and 2026 was no exception.

Attendance grew 7.9% from 2025, with ESSENCE Festival welcoming an average of 88,000 attendees daily across Festival experiences and recording 51,000 daily Convention Center check-ins.

But beyond the numbers, it’s the reunions, shared experiences and sense of belonging that keep us coming back. Swipe to see how the family grew in 2026.

When ESSENCE Festival of Culture® comes home, the City of New Orleans feels it.For more than three decades, the City of ...
10/13/2026

When ESSENCE Festival of Culture® comes home, the City of New Orleans feels it.

For more than three decades, the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana have been more than a destination for ESSENCE Festival. They’ve been home. And every year, when the family returns, the impact reaches far beyond the stages and Convention Center.

From hotels and restaurants to local businesses and the people who bring ESSENCE Festival weekend to life, the impact is felt across the city. Because behind every unforgettable performance, reunion and moment of Black joy is a community that makes it all possible.

ESSENCE Festival and the City of New Orleans have grown together, and that impact lasts long after the weekend ends. Swipe to see how.

The lights may shine brightest on the stage, but the return on investment of ESSENCE Festival of Culture® goes far beyon...
10/09/2026

The lights may shine brightest on the stage, but the return on investment of ESSENCE Festival of Culture® goes far beyond what makes the timeline.

For more than three decades, ESSENCE, the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana have created something bigger than a weekend. From 2022 to 2025, the Festival generated $1.31 billion in economic impact, supported more than 11,000 jobs and produced $179.3 million in tax revenue.

But the numbers tell only part of the story. The return on investment is also felt by the local business owner gaining new customers, the entrepreneur receiving an investment, the creator finding a bigger audience, the job seeker leaving with an opportunity and the resident accessing free health resources.

ESSENCE Festival brings Black culture, creativity and joy to the world, all while making sure New Orleans feels the love, too.

Now that’s a lasting impression. Swipe to discover how we’re making our stay count.

09/17/2026

Essence Fest 2026 | In The Lab ft. Mielle Organics

Real talk from the people behind your favorite brands. Founders, formulators, beauty pros. No filter, no fluff.

Watch the full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BE2v02D2w0

08/27/2026

Black Heart Association brought free, life-saving heart screenings to ESSENCE Festival of Culture.

As part of ESSENCE’s Create to Heal initiative, attendees and members of the New Orleans community received free blood pressure, cholesterol and genetic risk screenings.

Information is power, and knowing your numbers can help identify potential risks before they become a health emergency. No one should be blindsided by a heart attack when the warning signs may have been detectable all along.

Learn more about heart health at ESSENCE.com.

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