Your Guide to the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture

Over the years, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture has evolved into one of the largest celebrations in the country, and New Orleans is proud to host it again, when ESSENSE celebrates its 30th year in 2024. If you plan on attending, here’s our guide on how to navigate the festival, where to eat, shop and stay, and generally how to make your visit an unforgettable one.

When and Where Is ESSENCE?

Traditionally, ESSENCE takes place over the Independence Day weekend. This year, the dates fall on July 4-7, 2024. Over the four days, the event will be held mostly at the two New Orleans venues: the Caesars Superdome for the evening performances and the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for the daytime activities.

Music Lineup Headliners and Highlights

As usual, the festival features a star-studded lineup of some of the country’s biggest names in hip-hop & R&B. The 2024 theme is “loving on us.” Headliners include Janet Jackson, Charlie Wilson, and Birdman & Friends, who will also honor three decades of Cash Money Millionaires.

The Sunday Gospel Celebration at the Convention Center will feature the greatest gospel hits, and admission is free.

ESSENCE After Dark is a series of late-night jam sessions, comedy shows, underground performances, live podcast recordings, and more.

In addition, a variety of exciting conferences, exhibitions, roundtables, and other experiences are scheduled this year, plus beauty, fashion and food events, a marketplace, a family day, an economic forum, keynote speakers, and more.

Where to Get Your Tickets

You can get your tickets, either a la carte (evening concerts, ESSENCE After Dark) or in the bundled day and VIP packages, online. All the events held at the Convention Center during the day are free and open to all (registration is required). The headliners sell out fast, so don’t wait till the last minute!

What to Pack

Bring comfortable shoes, an umbrella or rain jacket (as summer in New Orleans can bring unpredictable weather and frequent afternoon showers), and a lot of patience.

The Convention Center in particular is massive, so there will be a lot of walking, and lines could be long. Both the Superdome and the Convention Center have AC, of course, but staying Instagram-ready in the hot and humid New Orleans summer could be tricky.

So dress light, but also be prepared for the much chillier temps inside. It might be a good idea to bring a portable mobile device charger with you so you won’t have to look for an available power outlet in a crowded venue.

Where to Eat

Check out ESSENCE Eats while you’re attending the festival for dozens of vendors and special food demos to get recipe inspiration, find a new dish you like, or revisit an old favorite.

The ESSENCE Eats series includes live podcasts and demonstrations for everything from remaking Sunday dinner classics to kid-friendly recipes and date-night dishes. There’s also an ESSENCE Eats food court with vendors from all over the South offering a wide range of classic New Orleans food, world cuisine, vegan and vegetarian fare, desserts, and beyond.

For dining out on the town (and in the French Quarter in particular) see our guides, below.

Where to Shop

Look for the festival marketplace near the ESSENCE Eats food court, with dozens of vendors selling artwork, crafts, music, clothing, jewelry, etc. You can easily get your souvenir shopping done there, too, from the local vendors.

The festival also has its own store inside the Convention Center, with the festival merch, books, magazines, and so on. The festival’s Fashion House series of events includes runway shows and curated truck shows, where you’ll be able to load up on clothing and accessories.

There are also plenty of shopping options in the area. You could spend a whole day browsing the three levels of The Shops at Canal Place. It has a soaring atrium and food options ranging from casual to upscale. Canal Place houses a slew of upscale national chains like Saks Fifth Avenue, Brooks Brothers, and Louis Vuitton, but also local boutiques. 

The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk, located by the Mississippi River, is a sprawling discount outlet mall with all the popular labels like Gap, Under Armour, and Guess.

Further down, venturing into the French Quarter, check out H&M and Sephora, plus all the lovely, unique boutiques that pepper Chartres St.

For more shopping suggestions please see our guides, below.

Where to Stay

If you plan on attending the ESSENCE Festival of Culture, why not choose a historic hotel for a unique experience? You’ll still stay close to all of the action and excitement but you’ll also be creating memories steeped in history and charm.

Here are our suggestions: All these hotels are historic properties located in the French Quarter (three of those — Hotel St. Marie, French Market Inn and Place D’Armes — have charming saltwater pools in their lush courtyards).

Book your New Orleans stay with the help of our Recommended New Orleans Hotels.

What’s Going on in New Orleans That Week?

There’s Independence Day, of course. New Orleans celebrates July 4th like anywhere else in America, but also with a flavor all her own. There will be fireworks over the Mississippi River and plenty of music and partying. Head to the Riverfront for the display, or see if you can score a French Quarter balcony as a viewing (and party) spot. Many Bourbon Street bars with balconies allow access for a cover fee or if you’re just buying drinks.

 What Else You Need to Know

  • The ESSENCE Festival requires all guests 18 and over to register for entry into Essence Festival’s Conferences and Expos.
  • Since the Convention Center events are for all ages, if you want to buy a drink at the ESSENCE Eats food court prepare to be carded.
  • You can re-enter the Convention Center multiple times but not the Superdome.
  • No outside food or drink will be allowed at the Convention Center and the Superdome; all bags will be searched.
  • Take note of the Superdome’s clear-bag policy: “Any bag, purse, or briefcase that is larger than 12” x 6” x 12” will not be allowed into the Superdome. All bags that enter must be clear with the exception of medical bags which may be subject to inspection and small clutch bags. The maximum size for a clutch bag is 4.5”x 6.5”.”
  • Look for the festival sponsor booths (like Coca-Cola) to score some samples and giveaways and to enter contests. Sponsor booths also host celebrity meet-and-greets, so this might be your chance to meet your favorite star when they’re not performing.

New Orleans and French Quarter Guides

Make the most of your stay in New Orleans while you enjoy ESSENCE Fest with our comprehensive guides to the New Orleans dining, sightseeing, shopping, nightlife, and much more:

New Orleans Guides

Eating and Drinking

Classic New Orleans and Southern Dishes

Cocktails

Shopping

Exploring

Famous Streets

Additional Resources

Coming to New Orleans This Summer?

In addition to checking out our suggestions listed above, consider booking a guided tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans. For easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!

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