Essence Festival of Culture
| Essence Music Festival | |
|---|---|
En Vogue performing on the main stage at the 2009 Essence Music Festival. | |
| Genre | R&B • Soul • Funk • Gospel • Blues • Hip-Hop • Jazz • Afrobeats • Reggae • New Jack Swing |
| Dates | July 4 weekend |
| Locations | Caesars Superdome New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Years active | 1995–2019, 2021 (virtual)– |
| Attendance | 500,000 |
| Website | Essence.com |
The ESSENCE Festival of Culture is the largest African-American culture and music event in the United States. The New York Times called it "an important event in non-hip-hop black pop for an entire generation," citing its high-profile music stages, its panels and keynotes by leading community figures, and its annual turnout of over 500,000 attendees a day, among other offerings.