2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture™
Thursday, July 03, 2025 - Monday, July 07, 2025
10:00 AM - 05:00 PM
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Convention Center Boulevard, New Orleans, LA, USA
The ESSENCE Festival of Culture is a vibrant celebration of Black joy, creativity, and community, lighting up New Orleans every 4th of July weekend. From electrifying performances in Hip-Hop, R&B, soul, Afrobeats and Reggaeton at the Evening Concert Series to a dynamic range of cultural experiences, #EssenceFest is where Culture takes center stage. Discover and support emerging Black-owned brands at SOKO MRKT™, tap into visionary conversations with the Global Black Economic Forum, and explore identity and expression through Beautycon™, Essence Authors, and AFROPUNK. Dive into the Suede men’s experience, indulge in diaspora-inspired flavors at the Essence Food & Wine Festival, and connect with purpose at the Community Impact Hub. This is a space Made Like This—a bold, joyful affirmation of who we are.
VIP Admission entry for BeautyCon™ inside the convention center.
VIP includes VIP entrance and a cut to the front of the line.
Your virtual besties are back for another round at GU® Creator's House for the Dirty Thirty celebration of the ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ in New Orleans. As promised, we're bringing back the auntie-free zone so that Zillennials can be boundless and disruptive in the summertime. This year, we're elevating and bringing in a new era for Girls United, widening the perspective of what it means to be creative and helping our audience tap into a reimaged version of themselves.
The Girls United Kickback is the exclusive after party you need to be at as we welcome the next generation of ESSENCE Festival. Act up in this auntie-free zone that’s packed with a lit lineup, Tik Tok worthy moments, and a VIP vibe you won’t get anywhere else.
Africa meets the American South in the ultimate cultural cook-off and basketball game celebration of flavor. Join us at Essence Fest for Battle of Jollof vs. Jambalaya, where food, sport, music, and pride collide.
Team Jollof and Team Jambalaya will go head-to-head in a high-energy showdown on the court and in the kitchen featuring celebrity chefs, basketball stars, DJs, and cultural influencers representing two iconic dishes and the communities that made them legendary. This event includes:
- Basketball game
- Jollof and Jambalaya cook off
- Live DJ performances
- Photo moments
- VIP Lounge Area
Expect bold bites, spirited competition, and nonstop vibes.
Whether you’re repping West Africa or riding for the South, this event is all about unity through flavor, fun, and unapologetic Black excellence.
Come for the food. Stay for the culture. Root for your team.
Let’s see who really runs the rice.
2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ Ticketing Terms & Conditions
Tickets
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ESSENCE Fest 2025