ESSENCE Festival 2026 Reveals First Performers Including Cardi B, Brandy & Monica, Kehlani and More

Women who have persevered, broken records, and built lasting legacies will take center stage as the ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® has announced the first wave of performers for 2026.

Cardi B, Patti LaBelle, Kehlani, Latto, and Brandy & Monica are officially on the bill. This year will mark a festival debut for Cardi B and Latto, representing a powerful and influential era in hip-hop.

Grammy-nominated R&B star Kehlani will bring her emotionally resonant catalog to the stage, while Grammy winners Brandy and Monica return with the legacy of their defining impact on modern R&B.

LaBelle also returns, continuing a six-decade legacy of vocal excellence and commanding stage presence.

Below: Essence Festival 2025 Playlist of Interviews

While Cardi B is currently on tour and Brandy & Monica just finished touring together, the initial lineup spans generations, genres, and creative styles, highlighting women whose influence continues to shape audiences and culture alike. Additional performers, special guests, and expanded programming will be announced in the months leading up to July.

By day, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture® will once again transform the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center into a hub where culture and commerce intersect, bringing together founders, filmmakers, beauty innovators, authors, and entrepreneurs.

The 2026 daytime programming includes the 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, and GBEF® HQ, with applications now open for vendors and creators.

Tickets for the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® Evening Concert Series presented by Coca-Cola® are on sale now.