The 2025 ESSENCE Festival Returns to New Orleans
The 2025 ESSENCE Festival Returns to New Orleans, Uplifting the Legacy of Black Culture and Community.
NEW ORLEANS—Every summer, Black culture takes center stage in New Orleans—not just as entertainment, but as legacy. The 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture, set for July 4–6, is more than a weekend event. It’s a tradition, a homecoming, and a celebration of the stories, achievements and roots that continue to shape generations.
What began in 1995 as a commemorative event for Essence magazine’s 25th anniversary has evolved into one of the most powerful cultural gatherings in the world.
Now honoring 55 years of Essence as a publication and movement, this year’s festival continues its mission to amplify the richness of the Black experience while honoring the legacies that have paved the way.
Presented by Coca-Cola®, the ESSENCE Festival calls the Caesars Superdome and downtown New Orleans its home base this year.
Over three electrifying days, the city will once again be transformed by the presence of Black artists, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and everyday people who carry history in their voices and power in their presence.
The festival’s nightly concert series promises a soundtrack rooted in tradition and transformation, featuring cultural sounds that span gospel, soul, R&B, funk and hip-hop.
These performances are more than entertainment; they are tributes to the musical legacy that continues to tell the story of Black America.
Legacy, however, isn’t just found on the stage. It's woven through every element of the ESSENCE experience. From the curated lineup of Black-owned businesses at SOKO MRKT™ to critical discussions at the Global Black Economic Forum, this event is a living example of how culture, commerce and community intersect to preserve and propel Black futures.
The 2025 festival will also include signature experiences like Beautycon™, the ESSENCE Food & Wine Festival, and AFROPUNK.
Each offers a space for celebration, creativity, and reflection—whether through hair and beauty, culinary heritage, or artistic rebellion.
SUEDE will return as a space dedicated to the care and community of Black men, while the Community Impact Hub will host grassroots organizers and local change-makers committed to equity on the ground.
For many attendees, the ESSENCE Festival is a generational tradition—mothers bringing daughters, friends reuniting from across the country, families reconnecting in a city that has long been a cradle of Black culture.
It’s not just about what’s happening now, but what’s being preserved, passed down, and honored.
In an era where Black stories are often pushed to the margins, the ESSENCE Festival stands as a powerful reminder: our joy is resistance, our voices are necessary, and our legacy is unstoppable.
Tickets for the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture are still available now. To learn more, visit EssenceFestival.com.
