ESSENCE Fest 2018: Janet Jackson, The Roots, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Miguel, Erykah Badu, XSCAPE, Daniel Caesar, Fantasia, Snoop, H.E.R., Queen Latifah, SWV & More...See The Full List!

ESSENCE

By Rachaell Davis · Updated October 24, 2020

ESSENCE Festival is back and our 2018 performance line up is on fire! Scroll through to get a look at some of the artists who will be hitting the stage for our annual 3-day extravaganza celebrating Black culture through music, film, art, politics, food, fashion and empowerment, July 6-8 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

More names to be announced!

Click HERE to get your tickets. See you in NOLA!

Janet Jackson

ESSENCE

Mary J. Blige

ESSENCE

Erykah Badu

ESSENCE

Jill Scott

ESSENCE

Snoop Dogg

ESSENCE

Queen Latifah

ESSENCE

Fantasia

ESSENCE

Idris Elba

From a DJ set by Idris Elba, to unforgettable performances from Ella Mai, Miguel, Daniel Caesar, Jussie Smollett, H.E.R., Kelela and many more, you won’t be disappointed with all the new faces making their ESSENCE Festival debut this year.

ESSENCE

Miguel

ESSENCE

XSCAPE

ESSENCe

Daniel Caesar

ESSENCE

Ledisi

ESSENCE

H.E.R.

ESSENCE

The Roots

ESSENCE

112

ESSENCE

Kelela

ESSENCE

Blackstreet

ESSENCE

Jussie Smollett

ESSENCE

SWV

ESSENCE

Big Freedia

ESSENCE

Kelly Price

ESSENCE

DVSN

ESSENCE

Marsha Ambrosius

ESSENCE

Major

ESSENCE

MC Lyte

ESSENCE

The Read

In addition to our very own ESSENCE “Yes, Girl!” podcast making their ESSENCE Fest debut, we’re also excited to welcome The Read podcast to the Festival for the very first time.

ESSENCE

Dave Hollister

ESSENCE

Guy

ESSENCE

Mali Music

ESSENCE

Doug E. Fresh

ESSENCE

Ro James

ESSENCE

Wreckx-n-Effect

ESSENCE

VICTORY

ESSENCE

Mykia Jovan

ESSENCE

Vaughn Willis

ESSENCE

Roy Wood Jr. (Mainstage Host)

In addition to The Daily Show with Trevor Noah’s Roy Wood Jr. returning as host of this year’s Festival for the second year in a row, Doug E. Fresh will also kick off the mainstage each night, while DJ D-Nice will hold down the turntables.