(Black PR Wire) NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, ESSENCE Communications, the esteemed publisher of ESSENCE Magazine, America's leading lifestyle publication dedicated to Black women since 1970 and the creative force behind one of the country’s most influential live events, revealed the full cultural experience lineup for the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® , taking place in New Orleans from July 4-6, 2025.

This year marks a milestone: 55 years of ESSENCE Magazine showcasing Black voices, shaping the culture, and honoring the fullness of Black womanhood. The ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® reflects that legacy, while pointing toward the future, with immersive programming that spans music, film, food, beauty, tech, wellness, and social impact.

Boundless. Limitless. Made Like This.

Held in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and Caesars’ Superdome, the Festival is also a vital economic engine for New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. In 2024, the event generated more than $346 million in economic impact for New Orleans and the state of Louisiana, supporting hundreds of local businesses, artists, and hospitality workers.

Curated Cultural Moments Across Every Touchpoint

The weekend kicks off on Thursday, July 3rd with a culinary showdown: the Battle of Jollof vs. Jambalaya basketball game presented by AT&T hosted at XULA Convocation Center at Xavier University. The game will feature a live rice-tasting cookoff, live DJ sets, and special appearances by Master P, Dawn Richard, Jidenna, Ros Gold-Onwude, Tyrod Taylor, and more. Doors open at 3:00 pm CT. Free with RSVP.

Inside the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, daytime programming includes the return of ESSENCE BeautyCon™, the epicenter for beauty and glam expression from the inside out. From the science of the latest beauty tech to date-night ready routines, this is your one-stop glam lab. For the first time ever, Bozoma Saint John joins as the inaugural ESSENCE BeautyCon™ curator. VIP ticket holders receive skip the line perks and full-size products in a HAULER bag. Bozoma will also hit the stage throughout the weekend, bringing her expertise directly to the community.

ESSENCE Authors™ gathers bestselling and emerging authors across genres for intimate fireside chats, live book signings, and a curated on-site bookstore, exploring themes of love, liberation, identity, and imagination, centering Black narratives in every genre from fiction to memoir to social commentary with practical tips for finding your audience in the world of publishing featuring Toni Tipton-Martin, Malcolm D. Lee, and Jayne Allen, J. Elle, Brendan Slocumb, Leila Mottley, Victoria Christopher Murray, Sarita Lyons, Phoebe Robinson, LaDarrion Williams, Roy Wood Jr., as well as audiobook narrator January Lavoy!

Curated by James Beard award winning chef Nina Compton, ESSENCE Food & Wine Festival™ returns with an elevated approach as one of the first inaugural curators. This multisensory experience explores the flavors of the diaspora through chef demos, pairings, a deeper dialogue on food and cultural identity with new additions of a Po’Boy showdown, tequila tastings, and a competition with top mixologists vying for the crown for the best Hurricane cocktail with additional appearances Big Freedia, Toya Johnson, Ingrid Best of IBest Wines, Chef Reagan G. Sidney, Fine Wine Series, Rob Kazi, and more!

Storytelling, Stage Presence, and the Sound of Now

ESSENCE STUDIOS™ will host the ESSENCE Film Festival® , featuring the world premiere of National Geographic’s Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time docuseries, followed by a conversation with the Oscar® -nominated series’ director, Traci A. Curry, and a spotlight on the stories still unfolding two decades after the storm. The series premieres later this summer on July 27 on National Geographic and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

The ESSENCE Film Festival® will also showcase breakthrough films and directors whose stories reflect both the beauty and complexity of Black life, including a special screening and fireside chat with the cast of The Chi featuring Luke James, Lynn Whitfield, and Jason Weaver.

The slate of films showcased includes: The Memo, Discovering Bessie Coleman, Wildcards, Someone Loves You, The Rebel Girls, The Ebony Canal: A Story on Black Infant Health, and Hatchlings.

ESSENCE Hollywood House™ is where careers in entertainment are shaped. From casting directors to writers to on-camera talent, this space opens access to the people and insights behind the screen. Expect industry talks, networking moments, and real pathways for Black creatives.

During the ESSENCE GU® Kickback, come out to trip out and turn-up on Friday, July 4 at The Fillmore with doors opening at 1:00 pm CT, featuring a stacked lineup of Moliy, T99zy, and Chxrry in a genre-crossing live experience designed for a new generation of cultural disruptors. Hosted by Zoe Spencer.

The energy continues with ESSENCE GU® Creators House, where Gen-Z content leaders will host hands-on workshops, Twitch stream takeovers, mental wellness sessions, and the return of Partners in Prime, a fan-favorite series on navigating brand partnerships and digital life with intentionality. On Saturday, July 5th from 4:30 to 7:30 pm CT, ESSENCE GU® and Refinery29 Unbothered will host a House of Influence Creator Mixer, bringing together some of the most coveted content creators IRL, featuring J.C. Carter, Scot Louie, and Justine’s Camera Roll.

Space for Reflection, Power, and Healing

The Festival also offers grounding and purpose-driven spaces. ESSENCE Wellness House® returns with sessions on hormone health, spiritual alignment, and holistic movement. Suede: Men’s Experience™ creates space for Black men to connect through conversations on fatherhood, finance, and emotional well-being with DJ Envy, Curren$y Trae The Truth, and Armani White.

At the ESSENCE Stage™, hosted by Eva Marcille, attendees will hear unfiltered conversations about visibility, reality TV, sports culture, and creative evolution, live and in person, at the center of it all with Jordan Chiles, Tonight’s Conversations Podcast, Quad Webb, Shamea Morton, and Yandy Smith-Harris. Join us for Sunday Morning Worship featuring a soulful performance with Jekalyn Carr and Bishop Paul Morton.

GBEF® HQ (Global Black Economic Forum) will host a series of high-impact discussions with civic leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to explore the future of work, wealth, health and democracy for global Black communities. Speakers include Governor Wes Moore and First Lady Dawn Moore, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Tamar Braxton and more.

The ESSENCE Community Impact Center™ is powered by purpose in a space that is home to grassroots change, civic action, and purpose-driven storytelling. Activists, organizers, and local leaders will gather to share resources to move communities forward – one idea, policy, and voice at a time. SOKO MRKT™ by ESSENCE® will offer a curated shopping experience featuring top Black-owned businesses across fashion, beauty, wellness, and home with every purchase supporting the economic impact of collective perspective.

Strategic Brand Collaborations Power the Experience

The ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® partners will activate immersive experiences throughout the weekend.

• Coca-Cola® presents the Summer of Uplift Block Party, an intergenerational celebration inspired by classic neighborhood gatherings. Hosted by Charles Kuykendoll and Jamila Mustafa, and featuring performances from Lay Bankz, Lloyd and The OMG Girlz from If Not For My Girls: Season 7, this high-energy experience celebrates the spirit of unity. Attendees will enjoy DJ sets by Sky Jetta and DJ Mars all weekend, plus surprise “Who’s On The Block?” moments that spotlight Black-owned businesses and cultural changemakers. More than a party, it’s a statement: we shine brighter together.
• smartwater® alkaline with antioxidant invites guests to its extension “under the shade” – just steps away from the Coca-Cola® experience – to recharge and hydrate without missing a beat of the summer vibe. It’s where wellness meets the rhythm of the festival, under the glow of the NOLA sun.
• Simply® brings flavor and fun with a vibrant game-show-meets-day-party experience in partnership with Urban Trivia. Hosted by Brandon Romas and Kita Renee, and soundtracked by DJ Almost Famous and DJ She Real, the activation invites guests to sip, play, and celebrate with Simply’s signature lemonades, premium giveaways, and lively challenges rooted in joy and community.

Together, these experiences honor three decades of Black excellence, celebration, and sisterhood—raising a glass to the legacy of ESSENCE and the vibrant future ahead.

AT&T will also be celebrating the power of connection through curated experiences at the AT&T Dream in Black footprint in the convention center. Through live panels focusing on entrepreneurship, mindfulness, and creativity, performances, interactive gameplay, and themed giveaways, festival goers will have the chance to build meaningful connections with the help of AT&T throughout the festival weekend:

• Friday, July 4th: Join hip-hop icon Bun B, actress, philanthropist and entrepreneur Crystal Renee, and entrepreneur, and Philly native, Saeed Fergusion for a Dream Mentors panel where they’ll discuss legacy, creativity, and vision with moderator, award winning journalist Gia Peppers. The day will close with a performance from Grammy Award Winning Singer and Songwriter Leon Thomas.
• Saturday, July 5th: Catch a live taping that bridges connection and culture with iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network’s wildly popular show “Decisions, Decisions,” hosted by Weezy WTF and Mandii B, joined by a surprise guest for an unfiltered exchange on modern relationships, ambition, and personal growth. The day will close with a performance by the Grammy Award-Winning R&B powerhouse Coco Jones.
• Sunday, July 6th: Experience the Power of Staying Still, a chat moderated by "Healed Girl Era Podcast" creator, Gia Peppers, with Dr. Raquel Martin, and actor Rome Flynn, followed by an uplifting TAMLA Showcase with chart-topping singer, Tim Bowman Jr., and Lee Vasi + Rock City Media Group’s 19X Stellar Award Winner Pastor Mike Jr.

Alongside, L'Oréal Groupe who proudly joins the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® to celebrate the vibrant spirit of Black joy, artistry, and resilience. In honoring the magazine's 55th anniversary, we reinforce our shared commitment to promoting a more inclusive vision of beauty.

Wells Fargo is delighted to announce its presence at the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® , where festival attendees are invited to embark on a unique experience at the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Lounge, located within the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. This airport-inspired lounge offers a relaxing retreat, complete with refreshments, comfortable seating, giveaways and photo opportunities. The lounge showcases the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa Card, and its travel and entertainment rewards that empower cardholders to embrace life's journeys. During the nightly concert series, select Wells Fargo Visa credit cardholders will immerse themselves in the vibrant music performances that define the ESSENCE Festival of Culture® from an exclusive viewing & hospitality area next to the stage. Join Wells Fargo in celebrating the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® , where every moment is an opportunity to connect, inspire, and journey together."

Investing in New Orleans: Community-First, Always

ESSENCE is proud to drive meaningful impact in New Orleans through intentional, locally rooted activations:

• Stories of Us: Located inside the ESSENCE Wellness House® at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, this sculpture-based healing installation offers drum circles, guided meditation, and healing poetry throughout Festival weekend.
• ESSENCE’s We Love Us Community Day: Taking place Saturday, July 5th at the University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena, this free, open-to-the-public event, centers holistic wellness and empowerment. Offerings include:
  • Master P’s Hope Foundation's Youth Basketball Clinic
  • Breast cancer screenings with the Bexa Alliance
  • Heart health checks by the Black Heart Association
  • Mental wellness workshop led by Maybelline’s Brave Together Initiative
  • Financial literacy session by Brilliant Minds with Dr. Jatali Bellanton
• ESSENCE Community Commerce Collective (ESSENCE C3): Launching during Festival weekend, ESSENCE C3 amplifies Black-owned businesses through vendor opportunities and editorial storytelling. The program connects New Orleans entrepreneurs with essential visibility and commerce resources.
• ESSENCE Community Conversation: An open invitation to discuss the impact of corporate sponsorship on community support.
• ESSENCE Sustainability Donation Program “Giveback Green”: This sustainability-focused initiative directs sponsor and Festival support to New Orleans schools and nonprofits, with an emphasis on eco-consciousness and long-term community uplift.

Attendees plan their Festival experience by downloading and using the newly enhanced E360 app, offering real-time updates, personalized schedules, exclusive content, and a chance to connect with other festival goers.

Tickets for the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® evening concert series are available now. Consider this your official invitation to meet us in New Orleans! Follow along on social at @ESSENCEFest on X, Facebook, and Instagram — and subscribe to ESSENCE Magazine and newsletter for behind the scenes coverage.

ABOUT SUNDIAL MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY GROUP

Sundial Media & Technology Group (SMTG) is a human connections company — the signal powered by culture, scaled by technology, and built for community. SMTG connects, elevates, and empowers the most influential consumer segment in the market: HER, the Chief Influence Officer. With over 100 years of community knowledge and insights, SMTG is redefining the media model into a next-generation platform. Powered by proprietary intelligence and AI technology, it activates an ecosystem that scales HER influence and economic power. Its portfolio includes some of the most iconic, purpose-driven brands and experiences shaping culture today—ESSENCE (Girls United, ESSENCE Studios, ESSENCE Festival of Culture® ), Refinery29, AFROPUNK, Beautycon™ (including NaturallyCurly), the Global Black Economic Forum, the Academy for Advancing Excellence, and the New Voices Fund. Through storytelling, products, and platforms, SMTG delivers the tools and technology to shape the future of media, commerce, and community—on HER terms.

ABOUT ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA GROUP INC.

ESSENCE Communications is the number one—and only 100% Black-owned—media, technology and commerce company at scale dedicated to Black women and communities. With a community of more than 31 million Black women, ESSENCE inspires a global audience through diverse storytelling and immersive original content rooted in Culture, Equity and Celebration. The brand's multi-platform presence in/ publishing, experiential and online encompasses its namesake magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; and signature live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, ESSENCE Black Women in Sports, Fashion House, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival of Culture®