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Home · 2016 ESSENCE Festival

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed

The ESSENCE Festival returns to New Orleans with a star-studded lineup this July 4th weekend with Kendrick Lamar, Mariah Carey, Maxwell, Ciara, and so many more.
By Lauren Porter · Updated October 27, 2020
01
Mariah Carey

Mariah is a main stage act for festival this summer. 

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Getty Images
02
Kendrick Lamar

2015 festival headliner Kendrick Lamar is hitting the New Orleans mainstage once again!

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images
03
Maxwelll

Maxwell is back with new music and back on the ESSENCE Festival mainstage. 

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
04
Ciara

Ciara is hitting the mainstage for festival 2016!

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Michael Tran/FilmMagic
05
Charlie Wilson

Uncle Charlie is hitting the mainstage once again during ESSENCE Festival 2016. 

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Michael Rowe
06
Tyrese Gibson

Tyrese returns to the Essence Fest mainstage.

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
07
Faith Evans

R&B diva Faith Evans will perform on the mainstage at this year’s festival.

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Rebecca Sapp/WireImage for The Recording Academy
08
Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds

Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds will hit the mainstage at ESSENCE Festival 2016. 

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Getty Images
09
Kelly Price

The soulful songstress is hitting the ESSENCE Fest main stage this summer. 

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Getty Images for BET
10
Lion Babe

Lion Babe, lead by the vivacious Jillian Hervey, is a superlounge act for Festival 2016.

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Andrew Benge/Redferns
11
Mali Music

The two-time festival performer, Mali Music, is using his soulful voice on the superlounge stage. 

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Stephen Cohen/Getty Images
12
Tweet

The R&B songbird will bring her soulful sounds to the 22nd annual ESSENCE Festival in New Orleans June 30-July 3.

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
13
New Edition

These ESSENCE fest alums are hitting the mainstage once again! Who’s up for some “Candy Girl?”

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
14
Estelle

Estelle returns to the Essence Festival for more good vibes.

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for ESSENCE
15
Lalah Hathaway

Golden-voiced Lalah Hathaway returns to make more sweet music at Essence Fest.

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Getty Images
16
Andra Day

The Grammy nominee and ESSENCE Black Women in Music performer is headed to the main stage this year! Andra was a festival perfomer in 2015 too! 

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Kelly Sullivan/Getty Images
17
Jeremih

The R&B singer will make his ESSENCE Festival debut.

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Jeff Vespa/WireImage
18
Judith Hill

The Voice alum and Grammy winner is a superlounge songstress.

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
19
BJ the Chicago Kid

BJ is an artist to watch at the Superlounge. 

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
John Parra/Getty Images for REVOLT Music Conference
20
Jidenna

The “Classic Man” singer is bringing his music and style to the superlounge. 

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Marcus Ingram/WireImage
21
Dej Loaf

The rapper and singer is headed to the ESSENCE fest superlounge.

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
John Parra/Getty Images for REVOLT Music Conference
22
Digable Planets
The 90s hip-hop group has reunited once again and are set to hit the superlounge stage to perform.
2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
23
V. Bozeman

The Empire soul songstress is a superlounge singer this year. 

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for ESSENCE
24
Cyril Neville

Neville is a New Orleans native set to take on the superlounge. 

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Jordi Vidal/Redferns
25
Daley
Daley is set to bless the Superlounge stage with another unforgettable performance.
2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Joseph Okpako/WireImage
26
Eric Bellinger

The R&B singer is taking over the superlounge during festival.

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
27
Wizkid

Nigerian artist Wizkid is performing on the world music stage at ESSENCE Fest.

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Joseph Okpako/Getty Images
28
Lady Leshurr
British-Jamaican rapper Lady Leshurr shut down the ESSENCE Festival stage with an electrifying performance in 2016.
2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Katja Ogrin/Redferns via Getty Images
29
Leon Bridges

The “River” singer is hitiing the ESSENCE Festival 2016 Superlounge stage. 

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Getty
30
Little Simz
Talented UK rapstress Little Simz lit up the ESSENCE Festival stage in 2016.
2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Roger Kisby/Getty Images
31
Tink

Mentored by mega music producer Timbaland, Tink is a superlounge singer and rapper hitting the festival stage. 

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Jerod Harris/BET/Getty Images for BET
32
Preservation Hall Jazz Band

The award winning New Orleans-jazz style band is a superlounge perfomer.

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Steve Granitz/WireImage
33
Zakes Bantwini

Perfoming on the World Music Stage is African artist Zakes Bantwini.

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Justin Barlow/Getty Images for MTV Base
34
MC Lyte

This hip-hop legend is a superlounge act for ESSENCE Fest 2016. 

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
35
The Internet

Soul band, The Internet, is hitting the superlounge ESSENCE fest stage. 

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
John Shearer/WireImage
36
New Breed Brass Band

The New Orleans band that specializes in funk, rock, hip-hop and jazz is taking over the superlounge stage in their hometown during festival.

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Jafar M. PIerre
37
Robert Glasper Experiment

The Black Radio musicians are headed to the ESSENCE Festival superlounge. 

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Marcus Ingram/Contributor/Getty Images
38
The Brand New Heavies

This UK acid jazz band is a superlounge festival act. 

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Brigitte Engl/Redferns via Getty Images
39
St. Beauty

Signed to Janelle Monae’s Wondaland Records, St. Beauty is set to sing on the superlounge stage for festival 2016.

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Paras Griffin/Getty Images
40
Skye Wanda

Skye Wanda is an artist from Durban, South Africa who is headed to the world music stage for festival 2016.

2016 ESSENCE Festival Lineup Revealed
Facebook.com/SkyeWanda
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