Check out the FULL EVENT from our After Dark feature above or scroll down to watch everything you missed over the 2 packed weekends of programming.
For 26 years, ESSENCE Festival of Culture™, Presented by Coca-Cola has been a space for our community to discuss the issues that matter most, reflect, recharge, uplift and celebrate together. Traditionally held in New Orleans each Fourth of July weekend, we went global and virtual this year with two weekends of wellness, empowerment, beauty, entertainment, and music – all streaming on ESSENCE Studios and Facebook Live via @essence.
See the rundown of everything you missed
Wellness House: Being Present and Living Well
Streamed Live on Friday, June 26th and July 3 rd
Talk plant-based living, CBD, workplace wellness, and fun hacks to make yoursex life better than ever. Get your body moving with yoga, core sculpting workouts and more. And, join in meditation, conversations, and tutorials designed to boost your mental, physical, spiritual, emotional, and financial wellbeing.
Featured speakers included Kerry Washington, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, Queen Afua, Lisa Nichols, Trap Yoga Bae, Shaun T, Marco Borges, India.Arie, Taraji P. Henson, Donna Richardson, Chef Babette, Lori Harvey, Jeanette Jenkins, KoyaWebb, Eric Thomas & more special guests!
Watch the entire wellness series and locate any of the segments of interest in the player below by scrolling to the right.
Beauty Carnival: Beauty Without Limits, 5PM-9PM ET
Streamed Live on Friday, June 26th and July 3 rd
Slay hair, makeup, skincare, and self-care withNaomi Campbell and LoriHarvey. See a special conversation with Felicia Leatherwood, Teyonah Parris and Jennifer Ford for a conversation on #HowWeCope Taking Time to Replenish Your Spirit brought to you by My Black is Beautiful.
Join Beauty entrepreneurs Cashmere Nicole (CEO, Beauty Bakerie), SharonChuter (Founder UOMA Beauty and Creator of nonprofit organization,Pull Up for Change), Rea Ann Silva (Beauty Blender CEO), and Lori Harvey join Girls United Sophia and Rechelle Dennis for a timely conversation around how major beauty brands and the beauty industry at large can show up to impact sustainable change during this historic time of social transformation.
Mikki Taylor and MC Lyte gave us all the gems on how to sustain ageless beauty. Watch as the world’s most popular Black beauty influencers share their timeless hair, makeup, and skincare secrets. Plus, get ready, set, and glow with Estee Lauder Sloane Stephens, Ellarie, and Cynthia Bailey!
Watch the entire Beauty Carnival series and all segments in the player below.
Wealth & Power: On the Frontlines for Our Future
Streamed Live on Saturday June 27 & July 4th
See Don Lemon,Tamika Mallory,Master P, First Lady of NYC Chirlane McCray, Mara Schiavocampo, Marc Morial, and more special guests as we talk mobilizing our communities, eliminating systemic racism, Gen Z activism, the power of the Black woman’s vote and more.
Join #couplegoals Steph & Ayesha Curry, Teyana Taylor & Iman Shumpert andmore as we talk the strength of Black love! Plus, watch as Sarah Jessica Parkerand more moms get real about what to tell kids when teaching them about race andcolor. Tune in for an inspiring keynote by Iyanla Vanzant. And, don’t miss an impactful conversation about Black female entrepreneurship in the face of global crises, sponsored by Ford.
Watch the entire Wealth & Power series and all segments in the player below.
Entertainment All Access Pre-Show: Your Guide To Upcoming Releases
Streamed Live on Saturday June 27 & July 4th
Hear from the creators of Black Hollywood’s most anticipated releases during theEntertainment All-Access Pre-show.Queen Latifah sat down with three Black women filmmakers in theQueen Collective to discuss what it means to be creative during this time. See a sneak peek ofDisney & Pixar’s upcoming animated film, “Soul”. Meet Rahda Blank, the writer, director and starring actress behind the film,”The 40-Year-Old Version”, produced by Lena Waithe and debuting on Netflix later this year.
Examine authenticity and representation withKatori Hall,playwright and showrunner of the new STARZ drama P-VALLEY.
Gina Prince-Bythewood, Director of Love & Basketball and Beyond the Lights, talked to us about her latest project, The Old Guard coming soon to Netflix with cast member, actress Kiki Layne, star of If Beale Street Could Talk.
We sat down with Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jasmine Cephas Jones and Phillipa Soo(“The Schulyer sisters”) to take a look at the movie release of the Broadway hit play, Hamilton airing on Disney+! And finally, David and Tamela Mannspoke to us on all things Madea for BET’s farewell stage play.
Watch the entire Entertainment All Access series and all segments in the player below.
Evening Concert Series
Streamed Live on Saturday, June 27 & July 4th
See performances by Bruno Mars, Big Freedia, Patti Labelle, Ledisi, Doug E. Fresh, PJ Morton, Andra Day, India Arie, John Legend, Common, Rapsody, Burna Boy, Nas, Raphael Saadiq, Wyclef along with Estelle featuring Chronixx, Elephant Man & Shaggy and more in a special concert series honoring the frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, watch as Michelle Obama shares an empowering keynote about the power of our vote. Catch all of this and more at the #ESSENCEFEST Evening Concert Series, hosted by Loni Love featuring D-Nice.
Watch the Concert Series and the segments below.
Get Lifted™ Gospel Sunday Celebration
Streamed live on Sunday, June 28th & July 5th
Lift your spirits higher with hosts Koryn Hawthorne and Tye Tribett. Hear inspirational keynotes from Bishop Paul S. Morton and Bishop T.D. Jakes as well as a special conversation between Reverend Al Sharpton and Mothers of the Movement: Sabrina Fulton, Valerie Bell, and Wanda Cooper- Jones. Plus, see a special discussion on the intersection of faith and creativity with Pharrell Williams and Bishop Ezekiel Williams, moderated by Devon Franklin. As if all that wasn’t enough, catch soul-stirring performances by Anita Wilson, Fred Hammond, Erica Campbell, The Clark Sisters, The Walls Group, Bri Babineaux, Jonathan McReynolds, Kirk Franklin, Tamela Mann & More!
This year’s Essence Festival experiences are all FREE to watch here on Essence.com.
AFTERDARK: Jam Africa
Streamed live on Friday, July 3rd
We traveled around the diaspora to bring you the sounds from Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and more. Check out performances by Fireboy, Kush Mahleka,Mi Casa, Oxlade, Tomi Owo, Xenia Manasseh and more!
Other highlights:
How Corporations & Intentional Design Drives Equity
A deeply thought provoking segment with Ford’s President & CEO, Jim Hackett, about how corporations and intentional design, could contribute to creating greater societal equity. A must watch.
Join Kerry Washington for a Rejuvenating Yoga Session
Don’t miss Kerry Washington’s Yoga Tutorial from our Wellness House series.
A Timely Discussion on “Defund the Police”
In a session presented in partnership with the U.S. Census, as well as AT&T WarnerMedia , CNN journalist Don Lemon dives into the question of what ‘Defund the Police‘ really means.
Watch John Legend & Common Perform “Glory”
Don Lemon, Master P, Tamika Mallory Discuss The Importance Of The Census And Supporting Black Businesses
Queen Latifah Is Empowering Female Directors Of Color With Intention
ESSENCE PRESENTS: A Black Women’s Townhall
We Reached Heaven At The Essence Festival’ of Culture’s Get Lifted Gospel Sunday.