The 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® Evening Concert Series adds even more star power to an already stacked celebration of music’s most profound icons, legends, and rising stars with a few surprises only found in person. Newly announced additions to the lineup includes Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Babyface, along with a curated Jill Scott and Friends set featuring three generations of Philly soul royalty: the Godmother, powerhouse vocalist Patti LaBelle, Grammy Award-winning R&B icon Jazmine Sullivan, and Jill herself – all together for one unforgettable night in New Orleans.
They join previously announced headliners including genre-defining R&B quartet Boyz II Men, chart-topping global sensation Davido, New Orleans’ very own cultural architect Master P, and R&B icon Maxwell.
In true ESSENCE fashion, this year’s celebration wouldn’t be complete without space to honor the legends who laid the foundation for the sound of future generations. In an intentionally curated set, Songwriters Hall of Famer Jermaine Dupri will pay homage to the incomparable music titan Quincy Jones: a creative force whose fingerprints are etched into nearly every corner of modern music, from jazz and funk to hip-hop, soul, and pop. The “ESSENCE Flowers” tribute, a QUINCY JONES JOINT, will bring together artists whose own work reflects the reach of his legacy.
Dupri also headlined Atlanta’s contributions for ESSENCE’s 50 Years of Hip-Hop Anniversary in 2023.
Additional performers include reggae legend Buju Banton and Grammy Award-nominated superstar GloRilla. Also, the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Isley Brothers, lyrical legend Nas, soulful standout Summer Walker, beloved R&B singer and songwriter Donell Jones, and multifaceted hitmaker Muni Long.
Plus, Doug E. Fresh, Erykah Badu, Ari Lennox, Donell Jones, and The Isley Brothers will bless the stage.
The ESSENCE Festival of Culture traditionally centers fashion, beauty, food, music and loads of fun. This year will not be any different!
