On August 31, 2025, the nation’s capital will transform into the epicenter of global Black music culture when Afro+ Fest ...

Keep scrolling to catch who we spotted this weekend—from music legends and rising stars to changemakers and cultural icons—at the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture.

Though LaBelle’s four-octave range and emotional depth are undeniable, the secret to her longevity goes beyond her talent. It ...

ESSENCE Festival hits different when you show up solo. For the second time, I did it on my own—and loved every minute of it. This year, I spent Friday and Saturday in New Orleans, soaking up the ...

Both women emphasize perseverance as essential to their political journeys, especially as Black women facing double barriers in predominantly White and male spaces. “You learn at an early age how to ...

From dropping out of college to building a business empire, Davido proves that betting on your culture can pay off big.

The Athens Community Arts and Music Festival brings together a diverse lineup of performers and artists in the heart of ...

For 55 years, the ESSENCE brand has proudly driven meaningful impact through intentional, locally rooted activations, and this year’s ESSENCE Festival of Culture is no exception. In partnership with ...

Following the success of the inaugural Cambridge Chinese Music and Culture Festival in August 2024, after meticulous planning ...

Hotel bookings declined during the 2025 Essence Festival, signaling potential challenges for New Orleans’ tourism economy.

While the event is technically called the Essence Festival of Culture, one of its biggest draws is the nightly concert featuring some of the biggest names in Black music. But at the 2025 Essence ...

Hotel and short-term rental bookings during this year’s four-day Essence Festival of Culture, held over the July 4th weekend, ...