ESSENCE Festival weekend is officially underway in New Orleans, bringing thousands of attendees and some familiar faces to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Friday’s daytime programming began with Keke Palmer leading a Pilates class before Octavia Spencer, Sanaa Lathan, Lynae Vanee, Loren LoRosa, Kimberley A. Martin, LaToya Luckett, and others made appearances throughout the day. Destin Conrad also performed at the Coca-Cola Stage.

Later, the celebration continued inside Caesars Superdome for the opening night of the Evening Concert Series. Hosted by Kenny Burns and Danielle Brooks, the show featured performances from Cardi B, Latto, and Kehlani.

The energy was booming at the Convention Center, with the ESSENCE Stage, BeautyCon, Global Black Economic Forum, ESSENCE Food & Wine, and several other experiences welcoming Festival attendees. Before the weekend continues, take a look at some of the celebrities spotted during the opening day of the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture.

Keri Hilson

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Keri Hilson speaks onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Blake Newby

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Blake Newby speaks onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Joy-Ann Reid

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Joy-Ann Reid attends the Global Black Economic Forum Stage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Lynae Vanee

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Lynae Vanee attends the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Keke Palmer

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Keke Palmer speaks onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Sanaa Lathan

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Sanaa Lathan speaks onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Keke hosts a pilates class.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Keke Palmer speaks during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Peter Forest/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Loren Lorosa

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Loren Lorosa speaks onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Octavia Spencer

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: (L-R) Maria Sten and Octavia Spencer speak onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Melissa Mitchell

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Melissa Mitchell speaks onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Kenny Burns and Danielle Brooks

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Kenny Burns and Danielle Brooks perform on stage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture at Caesars Superdome on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kaitlyn Morris/Getty Images)

Kenneth Temple and Nina Compton

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: (L-R) Kenneth Temple and Nina Compton speak onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Peter Forest/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

LeToya Luckett attends the Global Black Economic Forum Stage.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: LeToya Luckett attends the Global Black Economic Forum Stage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Obio Jones

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Obio Jones attends the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Kimberley A. Martin

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Kimberley A. Martin speaks onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Destin Conrad

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Destin Conrad performs onstage at the Coca-Cola stage during the 2026 Essence Festival of Culture on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/WireImage)

Jamila Mustafa and Charles Beloved

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: (L-R) Jamila Mustafa and Charles Beloved Kuykendoll attend the 2026 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture® Presented By Coca-Cola® – Caesars’ Superdome at Caesars Superdome on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Josh Brasted/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Kehlani performs onstage.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Kehlani performs during 2026 Essence Festival of Culture at Caesars Superdome on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

Teyana Taylor

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Teyana Taylor performs during 2026 Essence Festival of Culture at Caesars Superdome on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

Luke James

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Actor Luke James attends the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture at Caesars Superdome on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/WireImage)

Danielle Brooks

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 03: Actress Danielle Brooks speaks on stage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture at Caesars Superdome on July 03, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/WireImage)

Author: Okla Jones

Read the original article on Essence.