The 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ is gearing up to be a monumental celebration in New Orleans, marking 30 years of honoring Black culture and excellence. Presented by Coca-Cola®, this four-day event from July 4-7, 2024, promises an array of enriching experiences for attendees.

A Diverse Array of Daytime Experiences

Festivalgoers will immerse themselves in a variety of daytime activities at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Returning favorites include the ESSENCE Food & Wine Festival™, BEAUTYCON™: @ESSENCEFEST Edition, AFROPUNK BLKTOPIA™, ESSENCE Film Festival® by ESSENCE STUDIOS™, ESSENCE Stage™, and SOKO MRKT™ by ESSENCE®. New additions this year are the ESSENCE Hollywood House™ and Suede: Men’s Experience™. These platforms will feature discussions on topics such as love and relationships, voter education, health and wellness, beauty trends, music and entertainment, HBCUs, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.

Star-Studded Programming Highlights

The festival boasts an impressive lineup of speakers and performers:

Serena Williams will make her first appearance at the ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ during BEAUTYCON™: @ESSENCEFEST Edition, discussing her journey from sports icon to beauty entrepreneur with her brand, WYN Beauty.

ESSENCE Stage™, hosted by LeToya Luckett from July 5-7, will include a fireside chat with Emmy-award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay and TV personality Big Freedia.

ESSENCE Film Festival® will feature top names in entertainment, including Garcelle Beauvais, Tisha Campbell, and Tiwa Savage, with a special screening of her acting debut in "Water & Garri."

Suede: Men’s Experience™ will offer conversations on community involvement and career longevity, featuring Method Man, Phil Agnew, and Troy Millings.

Innovative Spaces and Impactful Conversations

ESSENCE Girls United Creators House™ will empower digital mavens with content creation opportunities, featuring speakers like Skai Jackson and Elyse Fox.

ESSENCE Authors™ will highlight critical voices in literature, featuring Rickey Smiley, Quest Love, Keke Palmer, and more.

Global Black Economic Forum HQ will return, focusing on innovation, wealth, health, and democracy with speakers like Stacey Abrams, Reverend Al Sharpton, and Don Lemon.

ESSENCE Hollywood House™ will provide networking and mentoring opportunities for film and TV enthusiasts with appearances by Wayne Brady and Bre-Z.

Nightlife and Celebratory Events

The festival's nightlife will be vibrant, featuring events such as D-Nice’s Club Quarantine Live After Dark, Larry Morrow’s After Party, Boozy Bounce, and SET DE FLO presents HOUSE IS BLACK. Diageo will serve as the premier nightlife partner, offering select brands from their world-class spirits portfolio.

Tickets and Virtual Participation

Tickets for the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ are available at ESSENCEFestival.com. Virtual attendees can join the celebration at ESSENCE.com and ESSENCEFestival.com and engage on social media @ESSENCEFest on various platforms.