WHAT: The 2019 ESSENCE Festival® presented by Coca-Cola, the world’s largest cultural, entertainment and empowerment experience and the largest celebration of global Black culture, convenes top world leaders, influencers and creators for its newly reimagined ESSENCE Power Stage. Free and open to the public, the Essence Power Stage will feature conversations and keynote addresses with influencers and artists – plus a culminating all-star Gospel celebration with performances celebrating 25 years of Black women in Gospel music.

The ESSENCE Power Stage will allow audiences to take in a range of empowering conversations with today’s most influential voices, tackling key issues around politics, love, and family, activism, wealth and more. For a full lineup of this year’s daytime speakers and artists, visit essence.com/festival.

WHO: Initial participants hitting the ESSENCE Power Stage are some of the most influential and legendary voices and performers, who represent our culture and community.

**More participants to be announced.

ESSENCE Power Stage:                                                         

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar                                   

Dr. Jess                                                                             

Erika Alexander                                                                                                                 

Jemele Hill

Mayor of Flint, Karen Weaver

Mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms

Mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell

Mayor of Rochester, Lovey Warren

Mayor of Baton Rouge, Sharon Weston Broome

Marvet Brito

MC Lyte

Pharrell Williams

Reverend Al Sharpton

Teddy Riley

Terry Crews       

All-Star Gospel Celebration:

Donnie McClurkin

Mary Mary

Tasha Cobbs Leonard                                         

Yolanda Adams

WHERE: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

WHEN:  July 5 – 7, 2019

NOTES: In addition, the 2019 ESSENCE Festival® will feature over 80 performing artists, plus a daily line-up of diverse, can’t-miss enrichment and entertainment programming, Including the Essence Beauty Carnival, Essence Fashion House, Essence Wellness House, Film and Television Festival, and Global Black Economic Forum, among others. Register now for the many free ESSENCE Festival experiences at https://www.essence.com/festival/.

Sponsors for the 25^th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival are Coca-Cola, AT&T, McDonald’s, Ford, State Farm, and Walmart.