Bands and groups own a hefty slice of ESSENCE Festival's rich history. Legandary acts such as The Isley Brothers and The O'Jays to more modern groups like Destiny's Child have held our stages down ...

Take a look through 30 years of Black Joy, celeb sightings, and celebration of our culture through music on the ESSENCE festival stage NEW ORLEANS – JULY 04: Singer Rihanna performs during day one of ...

This story was originally published in ESSENCE’s special 55th anniversary July/August 2025 issue, on stands now. When ESSENCE magazine’s inaugural issue was released in May of 1970, it stood alone in ...

In the heart of the vibrant and sultry city of New Orleans, there exists a phenomenon that transcends mere music and culture—it’s an experience, a celebration of life itself. For nearly three decades, ...

Trinidad and Haiti were truly represented at the ESSENCE Festival this year. Machel Montano, Kes The Band, and Wyclef Jean had some amazing sets that were full of surprises. Following the Grammy Award ...