After pivoting to a virtual experience in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, the Essence Festival of Culture will host a fully live gathering for the first time in two years at the Superdome and Morial Convention Center from June 30 to July 3, 2022. Organizers announced in a press release that the four-day event will celebrate the culture and resilience of the Black community with the theme “It’s the Black Joy for Me!”

Based upon the success of its livestreams and digital outreach, the Essence Festival will also continue its virtual programming.

“The reimagining of the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans as a ‘phygital’—fully physical and fully digital—experience will be epic,” said Caroline Wanga, CEO of Essence Communications, Inc., in a press release.

“Given what we have collectively experienced over the last two years, the opportunity to convene and uplift in the spirit of culture, equity, celebration—and joy— is more of a privilege and honor than it has ever been. We look forward to our homecoming in the city of New Orleans and to strengthening our impact as a cornerstone of Black culture, entrepreneurship and economic inclusion—working always to serve Black women and communities deeply.”

Additional details regarding the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture—including ticketing, schedules, talent line-up, COVID protocols, and more—will be released in January 2022.

The return of the live experience will include almost one million square feet of space for empowerment programming (networking, finance, career, wellness, fashion, beauty and more) at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, nightly concerts at Caesars Superdome and other entertaining and inspirational activations in venues across the city. The festival’s digital programming will include livestreaming of select on-the-ground activities in New Orleans, as well as new and exclusive digital content and experiences.

“We are elated to announce the return of the Essence Festival to New Orleans in the summer of 2022,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “Essence brings so much to our city and our economy, and I can’t wait to see what this year has to offer.”

Launched in 1995 as an event to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Essence magazine, the EssenceE Festival of Culture has since evolved into the world’s largest celebration of Black women, culture and communities.  Regularly convening more than 530,000 people annually over July 4th weekend in New Orleans, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture is now also the nation’s largest festival by per day attendance.

Visit www.essencefestival.com for the latest information.