In 1995, a special festival happened in honor of the 25-anniversary of Essence magazine. Back then, no one could ever know that it would become one of the most important US music festivals with lineups dedicated to African American culture.
New Orleans, Louisiana, is the usual host, with one exception in 2006 due to Hurricane Katrina. Each year, the Essence Music Festival lineup invites the audience that loves music, pop culture, and fashion to enjoy the unique experience.
Organizers have announced the dates and tickets for Essence 2025, and on April 10, the first part of the lineup for 2025. Before getting there, let’s learn a few essential things about this festival.
When is the Essence Music Festival 2025?
Essence Music Festival is a summer event that’s usually held in July. In 2025, it’s announced to be 3-6 July. This period gives attendees and visitors a unique chance to participate in city-day activities.
Where is the Essence Festival Held?
As mentioned, this is a New Orleans festival, so the usual location is New Orleans, LA. It was once held in Houston, Texas (2006) due to Hurricane Katrina damage in New Orleans. The 2020 festival was postponed, and there was a virtual event next year.
What Music Genres Does the Essence Music Festival Cover?
The Essence Music Festival lineup features hip-hop, R&B, soul, and gospel genres. Still, you should be prepared for surprises because there is something special for festival enthusiasts each year.
In addition to musical surprises, there can also be some commemorative ones. Custom Balloons are a great choice.
Balloons with a music festival logo float up at the end of the last song, conveying the joy of the music festival to every corner. They are not only decorations for the Essence Festival but also a bond of the soul, connecting everyone who loves music. Or balloons with distinct patterns visually form an ocean of music, looking forward to our next gathering.
It is a good way to use balloons with African American cultural theme patterns to highlight the spirit of the music festival. Each balloon witnessed this music carnival and left an unforgettable mark.
Who Is Performing at the Essence Festival 2025?
The past year, 2024, was a very special year for the Essence Festival of Culture. It was a celebration of the 30-year existence of the festival, and we are sure that it was exhausting organizing this event. But on April 9, counting down the days 86 before the festival happens, and still not having at least some of the names for the headliners, the festival fans are not taking it well.
“Don’t know the strategy behind waiting so far out to announce the line up. It didn’t use to be this way. Very Annoying!! Not locking in hotel, plane or any other ticket this year until the lineup comes out. This is not fair to the people. Not every change is good.”
Comment by Gwen Jones on the post by Essence Festival on their Facebook profile.
“Nope! I’ll be at the Cincinnati Music Festival this year instead 😊!!!”
Jasmyn’s (jassoullovely) comment on the Instagram post from Essence Fest profile.
And finally, on April 10, the organizer launched the first part of the lineup. Let’s see who the first announced artists are for the Essence Fest 2025 lineup:
- Boyz II Men
- Davido
- Maxwell
- Master P
- Buju Banton
- Donell Jones
- GloRilla (if you missed her in June at The Roots Picnic festival, you can attend Essence Fest 2025 and enjoy her performance)
- The Isley Brothers
- Muni Long
- Nas
- Summer Walker
- “ESSENCE Flowers” Jermaine Dupri honors Quincy Jones
And we must note that this time, the marketing team of Essence was very creative in announcing the first part of the lineup. We love the video in which they announced the first part of the artists. Watch the video and enjoy.
Our Predictions about the Essence Fest 2025 Lineup
We love to analyze things and rely on statistical indicators and data. On April 9, 2025, we quickly researched which artists participated the most in the Essence festival for the past 30 years. Based on that analysis, we estimated some artists’ chances to join the Essence 2025 lineup.
- Maze featuring Frankie Beverly – Unlikely. Even though they participated every year, in 2024, on their “final performance” tribute, we shouldn’t expect them as part of the Essence 2025 lineup.
- Mary J. Blige – Possible. 50% chance that Mary will perform at Essence 2025. Her 2025 tour ends in April, leaving July open for additional performances.
- Doug E. Fresh – Possible. 40% chance to be in the Essence 2025 lineup.
- Charlie Wilson – Highly Likely. Performed nearly annually since 2006. Asd a headliner in Essence 2024 with a strong fanbase, we think Charlie might be part of this year’s lineup.
If you like the predictions and guesses, check out our extensive prediction about who will perform at the 2025 Essence Festival.
How Much Do the Tickets for the Essence Festival Cost?
According to the official seller, Ticketmaster, the Essence Festival of Culture tickets start from $180 for Early Bird 3-day tickets.
Regarding the best seats, the price may go up to $1,950 with a discount calculated. Prices mainly depend on the location and how close to the stage you want to be.
Essence 2025 tickets are available on Ticketmaster (affiliate link) and Vivid Seats (affiliate link).
Important Information about Essence Fest 2025
Essence is an annual festival celebrating African American culture, especially music, with plenty of celebrities performing on stage. Also, you can take part in empowering workshops and exhibitions to support this unique US event.
The festival features a variety of events, including:
- Evening concerts by famous R&B, soul, funk, gospel, and hip-hop artists
- Empowerment Experience with talks focusing on topics like religion, economics, and education
- Beauty and fashion experiences
- Food vendors
To attend this festival, you need to book your tickets early. Booking several months in advance is highly recommended.
If you don’t want to stay for all the music performances, you don’t have to, because you’ll find plenty of additional activities you’ll want to see or attend.
Essence Music Festival Videos
Take a look at previous editions to see how things went. From exceptional acts to beautiful exhibitions, these videos are the reason why you’ll want to invest in 2025 Essence tickets.
Essence Music Festival Gallery
These pictures capture the essence of the Essence! Learn more about the mission and values of this festival through the images we feature:
Essence Music Festival Reviews
Most reviews we found online say it’s one of the best musical events in the US, so people appreciate the values Essence Music Festival promotes.
“I’ve heard of the Essence Festival for years, but I didn’t know that it was chock full of free events! During the day, you can get lost at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. The festival organizers have so many things going on that it was hard to choose one event!”
says RoadlessWandering on TripAdvisor.
“The different stages had wonderful panels that was interesting. The shows was entertaining. The vendors never ended. There was shopping and then more shopping. If you wanna find one of a kind items, Come to Essence Fest and bring an extra suitcase. Celebrities and VIP was accessible. So many interactive activities too.”
says HBYani624 who attended Essence in 2023.
When in New Orleans, you shouldn’t miss the Essence Festival!
Previous Years’ Essence Festival Lineups
The Festival lineup is unveiled, and it’s a great time to remind ourselves of previous years. That’s what it takes to understand why US and worldwide audiences so appreciate this festival.
Essence Festival 2024 Lineup
Essence Festival 2024 lineup, and it’s at least exceptional! It’s easily one of the best lineups at the festival this year and, without a doubt, worthy of the 30 years of Essence anniversary. There was something for everyone, from The Roots to Janet Jackson, Usher to Victoria Monét, and Busta Rhymes to Charlie Wilson. It was definitely a special year.
Participation Lineup for the 2024 Essence Festival:
- Janet Jackson
- Charlie Wilson
- Birdman & Friends
- Usher
- D-Nice
- Victoria Monét
- Tank and The Bangas
- The Roots & Friends
- Busta Rhymes
- TGT
- SWV
- Ayra Starr
- Frankie Beverly & Maze
- Jacquees
- Big Boi
- Donell Jones
- Ha Sizzle
- Lloyd
- Teedra Moses
- T-Pain
Essence Music Festival Lineup by Day
We keep the information about the Essence Music Festival lineup by day.
| Friday, July 5, 2024 | Sunday, July 6, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Bryan “Birdman” Williams | Janet Jackson |
| Raphael Saadiq | Victoria Monét |
| The Roots | SWV |
| Mickey Guyton | Tank and The Bangas |
| Ari Lennox | Teedra Moses |
| T-Pain | HaSizzle |
| Busta Rhymes | Dawn Richard |
| Jacquees | Special Tribute to Frankie Beverly with Special Guests |
Essence Festival 2023 Lineup
The 2023 Essence Festival was exciting, with many exceptional African American acts. From Megan Thee Stallion and Ice Cube to Janelle Monae and Lil Jon, attendees had a great chance to experience the authentic culture.
Indeed, the 2023 lineup featured even more acts, including Ludacris, Lauryn Hill, Muni Long, Doug E. Fresh, and Jermaine Dupri.
Participation Lineup for the 2022 Essence Festival
The 2022 edition was special after a one-year break and another year of virtual experience. That year, festival attendees could attend great acts, including:
- Nicki Minaj
- Janet Jackson
- Jazmine Sullivan
- Ghostface Killah
- LeToya Luckett
And many others!
More Similar Music Festivals to Essence
Essence is unique and one-of-a-kind. Still, if you want exceptional musical experiences, you can consider visiting festivals like Coachella, The Roots Picnic, Escape Halloween, Austin City Limits, or Outside Lands – all based in the US, promoting great music and musical culture. But if you like a music festival that celebrates African American culture, we want to recommend the Broccoli City Festival (August 8-10) with all our hearts. The Broccoli City Festival lineup for 2025 is already out.
