How Can EssenceFest Reclaim Its Glory?

How Can EssenceFest Reclaim Its Glory?

EssenceFest has long been a cultural cornerstone, celebrating Black culture, talent and the strength of Black womanhood.  Since its inception in 1995, the festival has drawn hundreds of thousands of attendees each year to New Orleans for a weekend of music, fashion, empowerment and community. It was more than just a festival—it was a reunion, a movement and a space where Black excellence took center stage.  But with the controversy over the rece…

ESSENCE Festival of Culture Is Evolving—And That’s Exactly The Point

By ESSENCE Staff ·Updated July 10, 2025 Now that the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® has wrapped, and we have all taken a deep breath, read the posts and comments, and had time to digest the magnitude of the weekend, we want to make sure that this is written with intentionality and the respect that our communities deserve. We know that this letter is long (just like our concerts), but we have a lot to share.We engaged i…

Essence Festival Sets Record Straight On Ms. Lauryn Hill Performance

Essence Festival organizers had plenty of criticism to contend with in the wake of their annual event in New Orleans, which was reportedly marred by issues regarding timing and scheduling, according to some accounts. Ms. Lauryn Hill performed last week at Essence Festival to a nearly empty stadium after arriving in the wee hours of the morning, but the organizers of the festival say it was no fault of her own. Taking to social media, Essence Fes…

Keith Spera: 2025 Essence Festival had some issues. Here's what needs to be fixed.

From scheduling to the Superlounges to the lack of a superstar, here are areas that the annual summertime event in New Orleans' Superdome should work on

Top 3 Ways To Potentially Improve ESSENCE Fest Amid Complaints From Fans And Artists

Here are three specific areas ESSENCE Fest can improve in for next year's event, if properly addressed by its organizers.

Essence Festival Shuts Down Lauryn Hill’s Critics — 'Put Some Respect On Her Name'

Photo: Getty Images Essence Festival organizers faced considerable criticism in the wake of their annual event in New Orleans, which was reportedly marred by issues related to timing and scheduling, according to some accounts. Ms. Lauryn Hill performed last week at Essence Festival to a nearly empty stadium after arriving in the wee hours of the morning, but the organizers of the festival say it was no fault of her own. Taking to social media, E…