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!
ESSENCE
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!
ESSENCE
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!
ESSENCE
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!
ESSENCE
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!
ESSENCE
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!

ESSENCE

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: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!

ESSENCE

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!
ESSENCE
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!
ESSENCE
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!
ESSENCE
15
112
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
ESSENCE
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!

ESSENCE

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!
ESSENCE
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!
ESSENCE
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: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
ESSENCE
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!
ESSENCE
28
Guy
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
ESSENCE
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!
ESSENCE
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!
ESSENCE
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!
ESSENCE
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!
ESSENCE
33
VICTORY
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
ESSENCE
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!

ESSENCE

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!
ESSENCE
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: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!

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!
ESSENCE
39
DRES
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
ESSENCE
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!
ESSENCE
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!
ESSENCE
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!
ESSENCE
44
Yanina
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
ESSENCE
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!
ESSENCE
46
YoYo
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
ESSENCE
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!
ESSENCE
48
Lloyd
ESSENCE Festival 2018: SWV, Jussie Smollett, Ledisi, Ella Mai, Keke Wyatt And More Artists Added To The Linuep....See The Full List!
ESSENCE
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!
ESSENCE
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