Saturday brought another packed day of programming to the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture in New Orleans. Teyana Taylor, Daniel Kaluuya, Mara Brock Akil, Danielle Brooks, Tisha Campbell, and other familiar faces appeared at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for conversations throughout the afternoon. Festival attendees also explored BeautyCon, the We Love Us Marketplace, New Voices Village, and ESSENCE Food & Wine. Additional programming continued at the Global Black Economic Forum and the Community Impact Hub, giving guests plenty to experience before heading to the Superdome.

Saturday night, the celebration continued at Caesars Superdome as Brandy and Monica headlined for the second night of the Evening Concert Series. Kenny Burns and Sherri Shepherd hosted the show as Festival weekend continued in New Orleans. Before Sunday’s final day begins, take a look at some of the celebrities spotted during Day Two of this year’s ESSENCE Fest.

Sherri Shepherd and Tisha Campbell

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 04: (L-R) Sherri Shepherd and Tisha Campbell attend the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 04, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Gail Bean

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 04: Gail Bean speaks onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 04, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Mara Brock Akil

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 04: Mara Brock Akil speaks onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 04, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Kenny Burns

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 04: Kenny Burns speaks onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 04, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Brii Renee and Maria Castillo Franklin

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 04: (L-R) Brii Renee and Maria Castillo Franklin appear onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 04, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Peter Forest/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Patti LaBelle

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 04: Patti LaBelle attends the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 04, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Angela Rye and Bakari Sellers

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 04: (L-R) Angela Rye and Bakari Sellers speak on 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 04, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Daniel Kaluuya, Teyana Taylor, and Courtney “Coco” Gilbert

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 04: (L-R) Daniel Kaluuya, Teyana Taylor, and Courtney “Coco” Gilbert speak onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 04, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Quad Webb, Stormy Wellington, and Yandy Smith-Harris

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 04: (L-R) Quad Webb, Stormy Wellington, and Yandy Smith-Harris speak onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 04, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

DJ Envy

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 04: DJ Envy attends the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 04, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Al Sharpton

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 04: Al Sharpton speaks on 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 04, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Daniel Kaluuya

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 04: Actor Daniel Kaluuya speaks onstage during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 04, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Kenny Burns and Sherri Shepherd

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 04: (L-R) Kenny Burns and Sherri Shepherd speak onstage during 2026 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture® Presented By Coca-Cola® at Caesars Superdome on July 04, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Lil’ Mo and Bryan-Michael Cox

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 04: (L-R) Lil’ Mo and Bryan-Michael Cox perform onstage during 2026 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture® Presented By Coca-Cola® at Caesars Superdome on July 04, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Josh Brasted/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Lil’ Mo

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 04: Lil’ Mo performs onstage in SUPERLOUNGE x CARTUNEZZZZ during 2026 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture® Presented By Coca-Cola® at Caesars Superdome on July 04, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Josh Brasted/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Teedra Moses

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 04: Teedra Moses performs onstage in SUPERLOUNGE x CARTUNEZZZZ during 2026 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture® Presented By Coca-Cola® at Caesars Superdome on July 04, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Josh Brasted/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Patti LaBelle

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 04: Patti LaBelle performs onstage during 2026 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture® Presented By Coca-Cola® at Caesars Superdome on July 04, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Brandy and Monica

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 04: Brandy and Monica perform onstage during 2026 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture® Presented By Coca-Cola® at Caesars Superdome on July 04, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Author: Okla Jones

Read the original article on Essence.