Written by Mo Clark
New Orleans, LA — It wasn’t just a weekend—it was a movement. Essence Festival of Culture® 2025 brought three unforgettable days of beauty, brilliance, and bold Black excellence to the Big Easy, and if you weren’t there, just know… the culture showed out and the crowns were shining!
From laid edges and braid bars to spiritual panels and surprise performances, this year’s fest gave us everything—hair goals, heart work, and history-making vibes. With the theme “Boundless. Limitless. Made Like This.” Essence 2025 proved, once again, that when Black women lead, everybody wins.
DAY ONE: Edges Laid & The Culture Unleashed
The weekend kicked off with high vibes and high buns at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, where Black beauty took center stage. The venue transformed into a crown kingdom where melanin magic met marketplace magic.
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Festivalgoers lined up for beauty gems from Black-owned brands like Bask & Lather, Camille Rose, YELLE Skincare, and The Lip Bar, while stylists slayed curls, coils, and baby hairs in real time. Influencers snapped it up in full glam, while founders dropped gems on entrepreneurship and brand building.
The daytime panels hit hard—covering everything from mental wellness to money moves. The food? Fire. The fashion? Extra. The hair? Next level.
By nightfall, the Caesars Superdome came alive. Coco Jones, Glorilla, Babyface, Maxwell, and the iconic Ms. Lauryn Hill left us breathless with a lineup that honored both the past and present of Black music.
DAY TWO: Black Brilliance Turned All the Way Up
Saturday was a heatwave—and we’re not just talking about the sun.
Inside the Convention Center, the energy stayed sky high. Cultural critic and foodie fave Keith Lee had us talking about purpose and plate goals, while Luvvie Ajayi Jones and Tamira Chapman schooled us on storytelling and securing the bag. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson graced the Global Black Economic Forum stage in a powerful conversation on legacy, justice, and joy.
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Over at the beauty corner, panels hosted by media favorites like CLEO TV and TV One delivered black family flair and hairstyle slayage from hosts like Tamar & Ms. E, Chef JJ, and Jake & Jazz Smollett.
And when the sun set? Moliy, Donell Jones, Buju Banton, and Davido brought international heat to the Superdome. Erykah Badu gave us barefoot brilliance and mystic soul, while the viral moment of the night came from 803Fresh & Doug E. Fresh’s “Boots On The Ground”—a TikTok fave turned live sensation. Freeway popped out with Philly pride, but the true mic-drop? Jill Scott’s “A Philly Jawn” with Jazmine Sullivan and Patti LaBelle—pure Black woman magic!
DAY THREE: Legacy, Love & Final Looks
Sunday was all about the reset. While the glam stayed high, the vibes turned soulful and spiritual. Brunches, gospel tributes, and community activations gave us moments of connection, reflection, and praise.
Attendees packed panels on beauty equity, mental health healing, and entrepreneurship led by changemakers like Mielle Organics’ Monique Rodriguez and The Honey Pot Co.’s Bea Dixon. The BeautyCon x Essence stage made its long-awaited debut with exclusive influencer talks and textured hair demos, reminding us why we celebrate every coil, curl, and kink.
The weekend closed out with a show-stopping Gospel Tribute hosted by Yolanda Adams, and featuring Jonathan McReynolds, Kierra Sheard, and Tasha Cobbs Leonard that turned the Superdome into a sanctuary.
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Final Thoughts: This Wasn’t Just a Festival — It Was a Reclamation
Essence Festival 2025 reminded us who we are, what we carry, and why we shine. It wasn’t just about performances or products. It was about power. About presence. About showing up in all of our glory—loc’d, laid, twisted, faded, or fro’d—and celebrating what it means to be unapologetically Black, beautiful, and brilliant.
From the poppin’ press-ons and glow-up glam to deep conversations and divine connections, Essence proved once again: this isn’t just a festival—it’s a cultural crown moment.
And baby, we wore it WELL.
