By ESSENCE Editors ·Updated March 9, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

We are so back. ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola®, that is. 

In celebration of March’s Women’s History Month observance, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture has unveiled its first wave of artists for the 2026 Evening Concert Series at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, July 3-5. The names are titans in R&B as well as hip-hop, pushing the sound and the culture forward: Cardi B, Patti LaBelle, Kehlani, Latto, and our Fall/Winter 2025 cover stars, Brandy and Monica. They’re giving “Ladies first” new meaning. 

Cardi B, who is currently on her wildy popular Little Miss Drama Tour, will make her ESSENCE Festival of Culture debut to perform her chart-topping, Grammy-winning hits. 

Also making their debut is Grammy-nominated hitmaker Latto. The “Big Mama” rapper, who has redefined the Southern rap sound with her confident, infectious lyrics, is sure to is shake things up on the Superdome stage. Kehlani is also new to the EFoC experience, but her catalog isn’t new to R&B fans. Her song, “Folded,” a top 10 hit on the Hot 100, recently nabbed her the Grammy for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song at the 68th annual Grammy Awards. Fans will certainly be singing along come the July 4th weekend. 

As for icons making a welcome return, Grammy winners Brandy and Monica, recent ESSENCE cover queens, are returning to the stage together after wrapping up their Boy Is Mine Tour in December. For those who missed that moment, which brought out the stars, you’ll have your chance to hear their deepest cuts and see the spectacle for yourself in New Orleans. 

And last, but certainly not least, the legendary Patti LaBelle will be back, kicking off her heels and hitting notes we could only dream of reaching. The Grammy winner’s stage presence is unmatched, and so is her catalogue. 

And that’s just the first wave. Additional talent, special guests, along with our programming across the three days will be rolled out in a series of curated reveals that lead up to all the Festival fun in July. 

Speaking of daytime programming, we’re back at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, offering interactive moments for guests to hear from those they admire most: innovators in the beauty space, burgeoning and established filmmakers, celebrated politicians, activists and entrepreneurs, best-selling authors and A-list talent. And don’t forget about the creative vendors who will be selling their goods at SOKO MRKT by ESSENCE. Applications for founders interested in particpating, meeting their audience in person on the Convention Center floor, are now open. 

The full daytime programming lineup includes the following stages: 

ESSENCE Food & Wine Festival

BEAUTYCON: @ESSENCEFEST Edition

AFROPUNK BLKTOPIA

ESSENCE Film Festival® by ESSENCE STUDIOS

ESSENCE Stage

SOKO MRKT by ESSENCE®

ESSENCE Authors

ESSENCE® GU® Kickback

GBEF® HQ

We’re gearing up for an experience you won’t want to miss out on. Get your tickets for the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® Evening Concert Series now. Firm up your plans for the holiday weekend with help from our E360 app, offering you exclusive offers, real-time updates and personalized itineraries. 

Join the conversation on social at @ESSENCEFest on X, Facebook, and Instagram — and subscribe to ESSENCE Magazine and our newsletter to stay connected all year long. 

Get out the group chat, gather up your bae, or make plans for a solo experience. However you prefer to partake in the “party with a purpose,” we’ll see you there. 

TOPICS:  2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture essence festival of culture

The post Ladies First: Cardi B, Latto, Kehlani, Patti LaBelle And Brandy & Monica To Perform At 2026 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture appeared first on Essence.

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