The 2017 Essence Festival Lineup Is On Fire! Mary J Blige, Diana Ross, John Legend, Solange And More

ESSENCE is closing out 2016 with a bang and we’re giving you just a hint of the exciting things we have in store for next year in the process.

Translation: The 2017 ESSENCE Festival line up is HERE!

We’ll be heading to New Orleans to celebrate our 23rd festival in NOLA this July and per usual, some of the biggest names in music are coming along for the ride. This year’s main stage is bringing an eclectic mix of talent with a little of something for everyone, including a first-time performance from the iconic Diana Ross.

“My Path to Strength” — a night of girl power and soul curated by Mary J. Blige — is an evening of performances by some of her favorite women in music, including Chaka Khan and Jazmine Sullivan . Solange, John Legend and India Arie also return the main stage, plus, we’ll get a taste of hip-hop’s golden era from NOLA’s own Master P. 

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The always-lit Superlounges will feature intimate performances from an array of established and rising talent, including Lalah Hathaway, Teyana Taylor, Michel’le, Ro James, Mose Sumney, R&B sweethearts June’s Diary, soulful songstress Tweet and hip-hop’s hardest working entertainer, Doug E. Fresh.

“This year’s Festival lineup puts women at the forefront of an incredible weekend of entertainment featuring more than 40 of the world’s most gifted artists and performers,” ESSENCE President Michelle Ebanks says. “It is an honor to welcome the inimitable Diana Ross to the Festival for the first time. Plus, Festival veteran Mary J. Blige is back to share ‘Strength of a Woman’ with her most passionate fans.”

Click through here to see a full list of ESSENCE Festival 2017 performers and mark your calendars to join us in the Big Easy, June 30 – July 2.

Weekend ticket packages are on sale Friday, December 16 at 10am ET with prices starting at $126. For information about ticket sales, accommodations and the latest news about the Essence Festival visit Essence Festival. Join the Festival community: follow us on Twitter @essencefest #EssenceFest and become a fan of 2017 Essence Festival on Facebook.