Essence Festival 2026 Lineup Announced: Brandy, Monica, Kehlani and More
Essence has announced its 2026 Essence Festival of Culture will return to New Orleans from July 3 through July 5 at the Caesars Superdome.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, the company has also revealed the first wave of performers. R&B queens Brandy and Monica, who wrapped up their The Boy Is Mine Tour last fall, will bring their respective timeless catalogs to the main stage.
The star-studded lineup also includes the legendary Patti LaBelle, R&B sensation Kehlani and rap acts Cardi B and Latto.
According to Essence, more performers and special guests will be announced in “a series of curated reveals that lead up to all the Festival fun in July.”
Three-day weekend ticket packages are available via Ticketmaster.
As noted above, Brandy and Monica joined forces in 2025 for their first co-headlining tour named after their iconic hit. The tour featured support from Kelly Rowland, Coco Jones, Muni Long and Jamal Roberts, as well as special guests Mýa and Keyshia Cole.
The Boy Is Mine Tour is nominated for R&B Tour of the Year at the 2026 Pollstar Awards. LaBelle is also nominated in the same category for co-headlining The Queens! 4 Legends. 1 Stage. with Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan and Stephanie Mills.
As for Kehlani, the singer is gearing up to release her highly anticipated fifth album this spring. The project will include her Grammy-winning hit “Folded” and “Out The Window.”
Meanwhile, Cardi B is on her Little Miss Drama Tour supporting her second album, Am I The Drama? Latto’s last album, Sugar Honey Iced Tea, was released in 2024. Since then, she’s collaborated with artists such as Summer Walker and 21 Savage.
The 2025 Essence Festival featured performances by Maxwell, Babyface, The Isley Brothers, Jill Scott, Erkyah Badu, Boyz II Men and more.