Despite the news that ESSENCE Fest 2020 would continue as usual in July, the organizers of the festival announced this evening that the New Orleans-based summer festival would be postponed indefinitely, “closer to fall.” The ESSENCE Fest fills local hotels in mid-summer, traditionally the low season in the New Orleans visitor market.

From the Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s office: “The ESSENCE Festival of Culture is a beloved and highly anticipated time of year in the City of New Orleans. At the forefront of everything we do, public health and public safety are always our top priorities. With the significant spread of COVID-19, we are taking every precaution in the best interest of our residents, visitors, and all who attend and make ESSENCE the worldwide phenomenon that it is. We look forward to welcoming everyone back — from near and far — and express our deepest gratitude to all who are helping our city, state and nation get through this rapidly evolving crisis.”