The ESSENCE Festival will return to New Orleans from July 4 to July 6, 2025, for its 31st edition. This year’s event will also recognize the 55th anniversary of ESSENCE magazine, which was first published in 1970. Organizers describe the 2025 festival as both a reflection on the magazine’s history and a continuation of its cultural work. They note that the event will serve as “a time capsule and a forward-looking celebration — honoring the legacy that began on the page and now lives boldly on the stage.”
The 2025 theme is “We Are Made Like This.” According to festival organizers, the phrase is intended to highlight the contributions of Black culture and to acknowledge the role of Black communities across generations. As in previous years, performances and panels will take place across two main venues in New Orleans: Caesars Superdome and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
The festival will include performances by GloRilla, Summer Walker, Muni Long, Master P, Nas, Buju Banton, Boyz II Men, Davido, The Isley Brothers, and Jermaine Dupri. Dupri will also lead a segment called “ESSENCE Flowers,” which is described as a tribute to producer and composer Quincy Jones. The segment will feature artists who have studied, sampled, or worked with Jones over the years.
Tickets for ESSENCE Festival 2025 are expected to be available through Ticketmaster, though admission options had not been confirmed at the time of announcement. Festival organizers have not yet released additional details about scheduling or guest speakers.
