The Essence Festival is the nation's largest annual gathering of African-American musical talent featuring an unprecedented three days of cultural celebrations and ESSENCE Empowerment Seminars and four nights of musical performances. The Festival has featured some of the biggest names in entertainment including Prince, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Lionel Richie, Chris Brown and more! Birthed in New Orleans in 1995, the Essence Music Festival is held every Fourth of July weekend, bringing more than 200,000 attendees to the Crescent City and adding more than $1 billion to Louisiana's local economy. In 2007, presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton made special appearances at the Essence Festival. In 2008, CNN reported live on-site throughout the weekend; partnering with ESSENCE to develop and tape a co-branded special presentation "Black in America: Reclaiming the Dream."

FESTIVAL VENUES:

EVENING CONCERTS AT MERCEDES-BENZ SUPERDOME 
•1500 SUGAR BOWL DRIVE,NEW ORLEANS, LA 70112-1255
• Main Stage and Superlounge (Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Doors at 6pm)
• Tickets required. 

CONVENTION CENTER – EMPOWERMENT SEMINARS & GOSPEL TRIBUTE 
• 900 CONVENTION CENTER BOULEVARD , NEW ORLEANS, LA 70130
• Main Stage and Superlounge (Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Doors at 6pm)
• ESSENCE® Empowerment Experience
• Festival sponsor activities
• ESSENCE® Marketplace & Art Expo
• Festival Community Outreach & Non-Profit Exhibits
• ESSENCE® Food Pavilion
• Free to the public. No ticket required. Empowerment Experience Stage opens Thursday - Saturday at 9:00am and Sunday at 8am. The main floor opens at 9:30am from Friday through Sunday.

2016 ESSENCE® EXPOS:
REGISTER NOW for FREE access to Expos at the Convention Center. 2016 brings you our first-ever ESSENCE® Expo Experiences on topics you love. Access is free, but registration is required to ensure your spot in the actio