2025 ESSENCE Festival
30th June 2025 · 0 Comments
By C.C. Campbell-Rock
Contributing Writer
The 2025 Essence Festival of Culture®, presented by Coca-Cola from July 3 to July 6, promises to be a can’t-miss blockbuster. Essence is celebrating 31 years of bringing the Essence Festival’s party with a purpose to New Orleans, as well as Essence Magazine’s 55th Anniversary.
More than 18 iconic musicians are featured in the festival’s concert series. New Orleans’ own Master P and his label’s artists will participate in the iconic entrepreneur’s last performance.
That boasts a lineup of award-winning entertainers that surpasses any other venue, including the Las Vegas Strip. What makes the Essence Fest truly unique is its focus on celebrating Black culture and entrepreneurship, making it more than just a party but a movement.
The concert performers include Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Jazmine Sullivan, Patty LaBelle and more musical superstars. Boyz II Men, Davido, Maxwell, Master P, GloRilla, The Isley Brothers, Nas and Summer Walker. Jermaine Dupri will also present a tribute to Quincy Jones.
The broader lineup reflects the expansive range of Black music’s legacy and future: reggae legend Buju Banton, Grammy Award-nominated superstar GloRilla, the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Isley Brothers, lyrical legend Nas, soulful standout Summer Walker, beloved R&B singer and songwriter Donell Jones, andmultifaceted hitmaker Muni Long.
To commemorate ESSENCE magazine’s 55th anniversary, hip-hop icon Doug E. Fresh will lead a tribute performance – an imaginative mix of freestyle, beatbox and cultural reflection – honoring the soundtrack of Black life, love and legacy.
Black people are renowned for their talents in dancing, acting, singing, and playing musical instruments. The Essence Fest’s body-shaking concerts, food and wine experience, and other activities bring the party element to the event.
However, the seminars, which are the primary focus of the event, outshine the party because they offer opportunities and information that can enhance or jump-start careers. The Essence Festival of Culture seminars offer festival-goers opportunities to network and participate in live tutorials, free consultations and presentations, learning how to become successful entrepreneurs or land those coveted corporate jobs.
Additionally, there are specialized experiences, such as BeautyCon, GU (Girls United) Kickback, and SUEDE Men’s Experience, each offering unique programming. The Festival also features the Global Black Economic Forum, which addresses equity and opportunities, as well as a seminar for authors, among other participatory events, ensuring a diverse and inclusive experience for all attendees.
Key Seminar Areas:
• Power and Finance: Sessions addressing financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career advancement.
• Essence Film Festival: Showcases feature films, documentaries, and short films by Black creators, with Q&A sessions with filmmakers.
• Global Black Economic Forum: Focuses on equity and economic opportunities for marginalized communities.
• BeautyCon: Celebrates beauty innovation and Black entrepreneurship.
• GU (Girls United) Kickback: A space for Zillennials to connect and immerse themselves in an auntie-free atmosphere.
• SUEDE Men’s Experience: Documents the authentic cultural production of contemporary men, with panels and programming focused on the Black male experience.
• Essence Hollywood House offers learning and networking opportunities for individuals interested in the business side of entertainment.
• Essence Wellness House: Offers a space for mental, physical, and spiritual renewal.
• Essence Authors Experience: Features leading Black authors with book signings and discussions.
The 2024 ESSENCE Festival generated a staggering $346.3 million in economic impact for New Orleans during its 30th anniversary. That’s $30 million more than the previous year, underscoring the significant influence and economic boost the festival brings to the city.
In the past, many locals have been critical of the Essence Festival for not contracting with New Orleans’ Black-owned businesses, including those in the Black media industry.
Last year, an economic study found that about $70 million of the revenue generated by the festival leaked out of the local economy.
Faced with this reality, Essence Communications established a system in 2019 to put money in the pockets of local Black-owned businesses. The Pipeline Initiative connects local service-based businesses with actual contracts to work at the Festival, along with training, grants, and visibility through our ESSENCE Entrepreneur Directory.
For 2025, opportunities to included audio-visual services, décor, catering, staging, staffing, transportation, legal services, design and IT support.
This article originally published in the June 30, 2025 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
