ESSENCE Festival of Culture Is Evolving—And That’s Exactly The Point

Now that the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® has wrapped, and we have all taken a deep breath, read the posts and comments, and had time to digest the magnitude of the weekend, we want to make sure that this is written with intentionality and the respect that our communities deserve. We know that this letter is long (just like our concerts), but we have a lot to share.

We engaged in the local community, walked every inch of the Convention Center, and had conversations in every corner of the Superdome before, during, and after the amazing performances. This is what we heard: “we love ESSENCE, and we want Essence to be better.” And so do we!

For 31 years and counting, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture® continues to be the center of Black culture’s summer calendar—and in 2025, we reminded the world exactly why. What started as a one-time birthday celebration of the 25th anniversary of ESSENCE magazine is now a global phenomenon: a movement, a marketplace, and a multi-generational cultural institution rooted in purpose, powered by our people, and pulsing with Black joy. Our vision is to do this for the next 100 years.

Made Like This isn’t just a tagline—it’s our cultural affirmation and a declaration. The ESSENCE Festival of Culture® is one of the most dynamic gatherings in our history, this year boasting more than 300 panels, yielding 21,000+ minutes of free programming with over 400 artists, speakers, and cultural leaders taking to our stages, reflecting the breadth and depth of Black creativity and thought leadership. Across our footprint, 1,000+ founders activated in our business hubs—contributed, connected, and claimed space in the future of culture and commerce. Behind the scenes, hours upon hours were spent building immersive experiences at the Convention Center, at the Superdome, and throughout the New Orleans community—>Deborah Cox, Yolanda Adams, Andra Day, Keke Palmer, India Shawn, Tamar Braxton, Brittney Spencer, Chanté Moore curated by Adam Blackstone, Doug E. Dresh, Muni Long, Honey Bxby, and Stephanie Mills. Sets by DJ Ari, DJ Drama and DJ Clue. Hosts Kenny Burns, Anthony Anderson, Lala Milan, Jordan Chiles and Terrence J. It gave us joy, nostalgia, surprises and power—all showcasing every genre, every generation, because WE are Made Like This. 

ESSENCE Festival is no longer just a single day music event—it’s a multi-day, multi-dimensional, multi-generational platform for creativity, commerce, connection, and community. It draws people from around the globe. It hires more than 2,000 people—most of them local to Louisiana. It supports hundreds of small businesses in and outside of Louisiana. It celebrates US in every form we are…And it matters more than ever in this current landscape—as Black-owned businesses and communities remain under attack both from the outside and unfortunately from within…we remain committed! 

Yes, there were challenges. We hear your concerns about sound, timing, and temperature in the Superdome. We will address the issues that can be expected with events of this size and scale—and we will continue to drive the improvements you deserve. Our production teams and vendors are taking decisive action to ensure those improvements as we move forward. 

We understand that the loudness of the conversation is driven by love for ESSENCE.  We appreciate it and we receive it. You want tighter production and consistent sound quality. WE GOT YOU. You want earlier lineup announcements. WE GOT YOU. You want fewer performances, so the shows do not go too late. WE GOT YOU. #weloveus

Some of the conversations around attendance are based on false assumptions. The truth? Our foot traffic met expectations. At the Convention Center, we intentionally reconfigured the layout and added over 100,000 square ft of additional space to create wider aisles, clearer flow, prioritizing safety, accessibility for elders, families, and those with mobility needs. That wasn’t a misstep. It was thoughtful. It was necessary. It was for you.

Some say, “ESSENCE doesn’t feel like it used to.” We understand that sentiment—and we don’t dismiss it. But the truth is we are focused on ensuring that ESSENCE remains relevant into the next century. This Festival was never meant to stay the same. ESSENCE Festival of Culture® is a living legacy. Like anything with deep roots and wide reach, it must evolve. That doesn’t mean letting go of what made it sacred—it means honoring the past while building for the future. For example, just this month we honored past and present editors of ESSENCE Magazine in our 55 anniversary kickoff issue. Change isn’t always comfortable. But evolution is essential.

ESSENCE is committed to being a powerful economic engine for Black-owned businesses, artists, and creators—many of whom rely on this weekend as their most significant business opportunity of the year. That mission has never wavered. Through initiatives like the ESSENCE Community Commerce Collective, the continued evolution of The Pipeline program, and intentional partnerships with local vendors, entrepreneurs, and talent, we remain deeply invested in the people and infrastructure that sustain culture, drive innovation, and deliver meaningful impact. We exist to cultivate joy, possibility, and progress for our community—and that has always been, and remains, our north star.

ESSENCE is listening. ESSENCE is evolving. ESSENCE is building—not for headlines or likes, but for lasting impact.

To those who joined us: thank you.To those who challenged us: thank you.To those who believe in ESSENCE: thank you.

#WeLoveUs

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