A panel speaks on the Global Black Economic Forum stage during the 2024 Essence Festival of Culture. Photo by Matthew Perschall / The Times-Picayune

Essence Fest 2025 fills New Orleans convention center with markets, interviews and more

June 30, 2025•0 min read

While musicians like Jill Scott, Maxwell, Master P and GloRilla rock the Caesars Superdome each night during the Essence Festival of Culture, that’s only a part of what’s going on this weekend. There will be plenty more happening over at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

Essence Fest will host a number of “experiences” dedicated to beauty, health, fashion, business and other topics important to Black women and Black culture. There will be interviews and panels, workshops and demos, a marketplace and more in each experience hub.