Home • 2018 ESSENCE Festival

ESSENCE Fest 2018: Janet Jackson, The Roots, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Miguel, Erykah Badu, XSCAPE, Daniel Caesar, Fantasia, Snoop, H.E.R., Queen Latifah, SWV & More...See The Full List!

ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
ESSENCE
By Rachaell Davis ·

ESSENCE Festival is back and our 2018 performance line up is on fire! Scroll through to get a look at some of the artists who will be hitting the stage for our annual 3-day extravaganza celebrating Black culture through music, film, art, politics, food, fashion and empowerment, July 6-8 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

More names to be announced!

Click HERE to get your tickets. See you in NOLA!

01
Janet Jackson
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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02
Mary J. Blige
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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03
Erykah Badu
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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04
Jill Scott
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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05
Snoop Dogg
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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06
Queen Latifah
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!

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07
Fantasia
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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08
Idris Elba

From a DJ set by Idris Elba, to unforgettable performances from Ella Mai, Miguel, Daniel Caesar, Jussie Smollett, H.E.R., Kelela and many more, you won’t be disappointed with all the new faces making their ESSENCE Festival debut this year.

ESSENCE Festival 2018: What's New This Year At The Country's Biggest Celebration Of Black Women And Black Culture

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09
Miguel
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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10
XSCAPE
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
ESSENCe
11
Daniel Caesar
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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12
Ledisi
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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13
H.E.R.
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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14
The Roots
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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15
112
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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16
Kelela
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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17
Blackstreet
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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18
Jussie Smollett
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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19
SWV
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!

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20
Big Freedia
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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21
Kelly Price
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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22
DVSN
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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23
Marsha Ambrosius
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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24
Major
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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25
MC Lyte
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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26
The Read
In addition to our very own ESSENCE “Yes, Girl!” podcast making their ESSENCE Fest debut, we’re also excited to welcome The Read podcast to the Festival for the very first time.
ESSENCE Festival 2018: What's New This Year At The Country's Biggest Celebration Of Black Women And Black Culture
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27
Dave Hollister
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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28
Guy
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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29
Mali Music
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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30
Doug E. Fresh
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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31
Ro James
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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32
Wreckx-n-Effect
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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33
VICTORY
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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34
Mykia Jovan
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!

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35
Vaughn Willis
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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36
Roy Wood Jr. (Mainstage Host)

In addition to The Daily Show with Trevor Noah’s Roy Wood Jr. returning as host of this year’s Festival for the second year in a row, Doug E. Fresh will also kick off the mainstage each night, while DJ D-Nice will hold down the turntables.

ESSENCE Festival 2018: What's New This Year At The Country's Biggest Celebration Of Black Women And Black Culture

ESSENCE

37
Ella Mai
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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38
D-Nice
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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39
DRES
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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40
Damien Escobar
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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41
Keke Wyatt
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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42
Kool Moe Dee
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
ESSENCE
43
Lady of Rage
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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44
Yanina
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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45
Louis York
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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46
YoYo
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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47
DJ Jubilee
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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48
Lloyd
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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49
DJ Captain Charles
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
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