SSENCE Communications has announced the return of the ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® to its forever home: New Orleans.

The Festival will occur from Friday, July 4th, to Sunday, July 6th, 2025. From elevated daytime experiences at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and a star-studded evening concert series lineup at the Caesars Superdome, this year’s Festival promises to be both intimate in experience and expansive in impact.

Evening performances will bring together legendary icons spanning across generations and rising icons poised to shape the future of entertainment.

This year’s headliners include Boyz II Men, Davido, New Orleans’ very own cultural architect Master P, and R&B icon Maxwell. They’ll be joined by reggae legend Buju Banton, beloved R&B singer and songwriter Donell Jones, Grammy Award-nominated superstar GloRilla, the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Isley Brothers, multifaceted hitmaker Muni Long, lyrical legend Nas, soulful standout Summer Walker, and Songwriters Hall of Famer Jermaine Dupri presents “ESSENCE Flowers” – a special tribute to music titan Quincy Jones. Evening hosts for the Caesars Superdome stage include award-winning actor and comedian Anthony Anderson and cultural curator Kenny Burns.

Master P will take the ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® stage in his hometown of New Orleans. From building No Limit Records into a blueprint for independent success to shaping how the world views Southern rap, his performance is a full-circle moment to honor New Orleans’ musical legacy in the city that raised him.

The ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® will also celebrate the cherished legacy of Quincy Jones, a visionary whose influence transcends generations. Curated by Grammy Award-winning super producer Jermaine Dupri presents “ESSENCE Flowers”, the tribute will bring together artists who’ve sampled, studied, or shared space with Quincy, offering a once-in-a-lifetime moment that honors his cultural impact.

This year’s ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® is the continuation of a story 55 years in the making.
“What started on a page now lives on the stage. What we’re building isn’t new. It’s who we’ve always been. And the experience you’ll find this year in New Orleans didn’t just appear–it was Made Like This.”

Since its inception, ESSENCE Magazine has been a lens through which Black culture is reflected, protected, and celebrated. Over the last three decades, the lens has expanded from the page to the stage, culminating in the ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® . What began as an extension of the magazine’s mission has now grown into the nation’s largest event, centering Black artistry, self-expression, and leadership on a global scale.
The Festival is a cultural archive, continuing to evolve with the community that has long supported its growth. Returning to an in-person format has generated nearly $1 billion in economic impact, reinforcing its role as a space that equally invests in people and progress.

In 2025, ESSENCE celebrates the 55th anniversary of ESSENCE Magazine with a weekend that reflects on where we’ve been while boldly looking ahead. The ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® will debut fresh experiences while welcoming back beloved staples, including the ESSENCE Food & Wine Festival™, BEAUTYCON™: @ESSENCEFEST Edition, AFROPUNK BLKTOPIA™, ESSENCE Film Festival® by ESSENCE STUDIOS™, ESSENCE Stage™, SOKO MRKT™ by ESSENCE®, ESSENCE Authors™, ESSENCE® GU® Kickback, and GBEF® HQ.

The 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® is presented by Coca-Cola® with major partners AT&T, L’Oréal Groupe, and Target as the official retail partner. Attendees can secure their spot at daytime experiences directly on the E360 app, with access to special offers, personalized itineraries, and real-time updates on everything happening throughout Festival weekend.