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Essence Fest just got a whole lot bigger after the annual event enlisted Teyana Taylor to join its creative team.
On Wednesday, March 18, Essence revealed that the Oscar-nominated actress and singer will act as the Chief Curator of this year's weekend-long events. Teyana Taylor will be responsible for shaping the creative direction for Essence Fest.
“We said ladies first, and we meant it. Not just on the stage, but behind the scenes too,” the statement read. “We are excited to announce Teyana Taylor is stepping in as Chief Curator for the 2026 ESSENCE Festival.”
The announcement was made just days after the One Battle After Another star made an impact at this year's Oscars. Although she didn't win Best Supporting Actress, Taylor was front and center with Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Benicio del Toro, and the rest of her castmates when OBAA won Best Picture.
The festival is set to go down Independence Day weekend, July 3 - July 5, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Before Taylor's role was revealed, Essence Fest announced that Cardi B, Latto, Brandy, and Monica would make their debut at the historic festival. They join other acts like Kehlani, and Patti LaBelle will also perform at the Evening Concert Series. More acts will be announced in the coming weeks.
Fans can enjoy all the daytime events, including the ESSENCE Food & Wine Festival, ESSENCE Film Festival, ESSENCE Authors, and Beautycon. Tickets are on sale now. Fans can buy three-day ticket packages on Ticketmaster, but those fans using the E360 app will get more special offers and instant updates about all the festivities.