The ESSENCE Festival of Culture is celebrating 30 years of Black joy, vibrant music, and sharing in the rich culture of New Orleans.
Though scores of revelers join us every year for fun and community, everyone knows the real show begins when night falls and the lights of the Caesars Superdome shine brightly on the biggest stars in music.
From legacy acts that shaped our childhoods and still impact us in the present day, to up-and-coming musical powerhouses, ESSENCE Festival of Culture’s 30th Birthday concerts promise to be a celebration of where we’ve been, where we’re going, and exactly where we are right now.
Take a look at the acts helping us celebrate three decades of magic below:
We’re serious about our 30th! To help us ring it in right, Usher will hit the stage with a special one-night-only performance that celebrates a milestone of his own – the 20th anniversary of his iconic genre-defining classic, Confessions.
The man who brought the world together in one of its most uncertain times now brings music in all forms together in one fire show.
America’s DJ returns to the ESSENCE Festival of Culture stage with special edition of Club Quarantine to celebrate our 30th, with a little help from his friends Method Man, Sheila E., Big Boi, Donell Jones, Tweet, Machel Montano, Lloyd and more surprise guests…
The Roots return to the festival main stage, bringing with them Ari Lennox, Mickey Guyton and special guest, T. Pain for a jam session unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
Put that on our Mama! The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter whose words long preceded the vocals and choreography millions have come to love joins us on the mainstage to showcase exactly why her name rings bells.
Put your hands where our eyes can see and put them together for the microphone destroyer, Busta Rhymes. The Hip-Hop innovator brings his signature flow to the Caesars Superdome for a night of music that will have the whole stadium exclaiming “Woo-hah!!”
You won’t have to be in the DMs telling Tariounna “Tank” Ball she’s pretty…you can see her face-to-face at ESSENCE Festival of Culture this year as New Orlean natives Tank & The Bangas bring their unique funk fusion magic to the mainstage.
Joined on stage with special guests & fellow New Orleanians Teedra Moses, HaSizzle, and Dawn Richard, this one is sure to be a NOLA night to remember.
Powerhouses on their own but a force to be reconed with when they link up, Tyrese, Ginuwine, and Tank will hit the stage as TGT and the mics will be ON as they bring their individual and group catalogue of hits to the main stage.
Gracing the ESSENCE Festival of Culture stage with her presence once again after a killer 2022 performance, Miss Jackson (if you’re nasty) brings her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-qualifying catalog to our big birthday celebration
For the love of R&B, none other than the voice of a generation Charlie Wilson will be lighting up our stage at our 30th celebration of ESSENCE Fest with a show that’s sure to be “Outstanding.”
Celebrating 30 years in the game, it’s only right we bring Sisters with Voices (better known as SWV) to the stage to flaunt their vocals and timeless style on the main stage.
It’s the return of the all-white party! One of the inventors of grown folks music, Frankie Beverly will grace the ESSENCE Festival stage one last time as he stops by New Orleans to celebrate our 30th during his farewell tour.
Stick around for a special tribute to the legendary soul singer and a passing of the torch, curated by Grammy award-winning producer & songwriter, Bryan-Michael Cox!
Put some respect on his name! Celebrating a 30th milestone of his own, 30 years of Cash Money Records, Birdman and a bevy of surprise guests will take the stage to bring the raw classic New Orleans Hip-Hop sound to the ESSENCE Festival stage. We couldn’t ask for a better Birthday gift!
The Nigerian singer & songwriter will grace the stage with a performance of her international smash hits. What better way to celebrate our 30th than with her sultry voice and hypnotic moves?
The R&B singer brings his special brand of sexy soul to the ESSENCE Festival of Culture stage once again to help mark the momentous occasion.
The ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ presented by Coca-Cola® will take place July 4-7. For more information and updates on the festival, visit our website and follow us on social media @ESSENCEFest on X, Facebook, and Instagram.