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    New Orleans is calling — and this year, the party starts before the sun goes down. The 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® daytime experience at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is a full destination in its own right, with world premieres, exclusive first looks, culinary moments, wellness sessions, beauty discoveries, author conversations, and cultural experiences spread across three days. The best part? It’s free to access with registration through the E360 app. Here’s everything going down July 3–5.

    Coca-Cola® Presents

    As Presenting Partner, Coca-Cola® brings its own stage of music, culture, and community to Festival weekend — with appearances, performances, and programming across all three days. Expect to see a few familiar faces: Normani, Ryan Destiny, Eva Marcille, Mario, Coi Leray, Destin Conrad, and the Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band.

    Premieres & First Looks

    First looks you won’t get anywhere else.

    Prime Video is bringing exclusive first looks at three highly anticipated projects: Ride or DieNeagley, and The Greatest — Michael B. Jordan’s Muhammad Ali biopic from Outlier Society. Expect cast conversations with Octavia Spencer, Maria Sten, Michael Ealy, Jaalen Best, Dana Gourrier, Amin Joseph, Kai Parham, and creator Ben Watkins.

    Disney comes through with an exclusive look at FX’s The Drop: A Snowfall Saga, featuring Gail Bean, Isaiah John, Asante Blackk, Peyton Alex Smith, and Simmie “Buddy” Simms III — plus the world premiere of The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder season 4, with creator Bruce W. Smith and executive producer Ralph Farquhar in conversation.

    ESSENCE Film Festival

    The ESSENCE Film Festival received more than 600 submissions from filmmakers across the globe. This year’s slate spans narrative features, documentaries, short films, social impact stories, and a growing focus on the micro-drama format. Our curator Sanaa Lathan, will join the ESSENCE Film Festival Pitch Competition. The six featured projects will include: A Portrait of a Postman featuring Tina Knowles, Please Return Your Cart executive produced by Issa Rae, ChikaBOOM! Starring Yara Shahidi, Funny Feelings with Mack Wilds, Pretty Vee, B. Simone, Pastor Mike Jr., FreeLance starring KevOnStage & Spence Moore II, and Switches featuring Sinqua Walls.

    essence festival of culture
    A view of the Food & Wine during the 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ Presented By Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

    Food & Wine

    For the second year running, Chef Nina Compton returns as curator of the ESSENCE Food & Wine Festival™. Expect live culinary demonstrations, competitive cook-off moments, and conversations rooted in Black food culture. You can expect demos, conversations and firesides with Mychel “Snoop” Dillard, Raven Goodwin, Sonja Norwood of Wickd Confections, Chef Zoe Chase, Effie Richardson, and Mr. Happy Hour.

    Unbothered & Well

    Your reset starts here. The former Wellness Stage evolves into Unbothered & Well — a dedicated space for healing, movement, and community care with more than 18 sessions. Keke Palmer anchors the experience with a Practice by Palmer mat pilates session. The activation is broken up in three pillars:

    • Women’s & mental health: panels, self-advocacy education, and faith conversations
    • Body & spirit: Sound baths, Talking Circles, guided movement, and breast health screenings
    • Art & community: The Door of Return installation and community care programming
    Guests visit BeautyCon during the 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

    BeautyCon @ ESSENCE FEST

    BEAUTYCON™ @ESSENCEFEST Edition brings tutorials, brand activations, product discovery, and real beauty conversations to the Convention Center floor. Featured brands include Grow Good by Cardi B, Canvas Beauty, and Bask & Lather. Cameos at BeautyCon will include Lala Anthony, Stormi Steele, and Tokyo Vanity.

    BEAUTYCON™ VIP offers expedited line access, curated gift bags, and elevated moments for beauty insiders and superfans.

    Book Fest @ ESSENCE AUTHORS

    Book Festival: ESSENCE Authors™ brings nonfiction programming curated by Nikole Hannah-Jones and fiction programming curated by Mara Brock Akil, with appearances from Tiffany D. Cross, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Jamilah Lemieux, Tayari Jones, Ayana Gray, and more.

    (L-R) Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Okla Jones and Grant Delpit speak on the Suede stage during 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ Presented By Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

    SUEDE Men’s Experience

    Suede returns with programming on style, wellness, finance, and community — and this year, DJ Envy’s Drive Your Dreams Car Show pulls up to the Convention Center floor with custom builds, classics, exotics, and American muscle.

    New Voices Village

    Where the next generation of founders gets their flowers. Whether you’re just getting started or ready to scale, New Voices Village™ is built for the builder in you. Stop by for founder demos, one-on-one office hours, workshops, and headshot and product photography opportunities — plus the resources and community connections to take your business to the next level.

    essence festival of culture
    A view of the Global Black Economic Forum stage during 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ Presented By Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

    GBEF® HQ

    The conversation about our economic future starts here. GBEF® HQ is where big ideas meet real action. Programming this year centers economic power, democracy, health, wealth, and the future of work — giving attendees the tools and language to advocate for themselves and their communities beyond Festival weekend.

    WeLOVEUS: The Marketplace

    Shop Black. Full stop. We Love Us: The Marketplace brings together Black-owned brands across fashion, beauty, wellness, home, and lifestyle all under one roof. Come ready to discover, support, and spend your coins where they count.

    Creator & Podcast Festival

    Your platform era starts now. From live podcast recordings to networking sessions and platform-building conversations, the Creator & Podcast Festival is the space for creators, media personalities, and cultural voices who are building something. Whether you’re already monetizing or figuring out your next move, this one’s for you.

    Daytime programming is free with registration. Download the E360 app to register, build your itinerary, and get real-time Festival updates. Want more? Upgrade to ESSENCE VIP for reserved Main Stage seating, curated gift bags, and access to the ESSENCE Luxe Lounge — featuring Bernard James, Christopher John Rogers, Brandon Blackwood, House of Aama, and Tia Adeola. Follow @ESSENCEFest on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

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