Usher! Kamala! Garcelle! See All the Best Photos from the 2024 ESSENCE Fest

The 30th edition of the famous festival runs from July 4-7 in New Orleans

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Updated on July 8, 2024 11:52AM EDT

ESSENCE Fest celebrated its 30th installment over the weekend with live music, guest speakers and some of the Black community's biggest names.

From July 4 to 7, New Orleans hosted the ESSENCE Festival of Culture, featuring performances by Janet Jackson, Usher, Victoria Monét, Busta Rhymes, Charlie Wilson and more. Serena Williams and Vice President Kamala Harris also participated in talks held throughout the event.

Per Essence, the annual festival commemorates three decades of "Black joy, vibrant music, and sharing in the rich culture of New Orleans."

The city has hosted the festival since it was conceived in 1994, with the exception of 2006 due to Hurricane Katrina and 2020 and 2021, when it was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here, see the most eye-catching photos of celebrities attending and performing at the 2024 ESSENCE Festival.

01 of 30

Usher

Usher performs onstage during Night 2 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture at Caesars Superdome — Usher.
Paras Griffin/Getty

02 of 30

Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris speaks onstage during the 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture — Kamala Harris.
Arturo Holmes/Getty

03 of 30

Garcelle Beauvais

Garcelle Beauvais attends the 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture — Garcelle Beauvais.
Robin L Marshall/Getty

04 of 30

Tisha Campbell

Tisha Campbell seen backstage during Day 2 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture — Tisha Campbell.
Bennett Raglin/Getty

05 of 30

Tatyana Ali

Tatyana Ali attends during the 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture — Tatyana Ali.
Cindy Ord/Getty

06 of 30

Stephen Satterfield and Tabitha Brown

Stephen Satterfield and Tabitha Brown attend the 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture — Stephen Satterfield and Tabitha Brown.
Erika Goldring/Getty

07 of 30

Sheila E.

Sheila E. performs onstage during Day 2 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola — Sheila E.
Bennett Raglin/Getty

08 of 30

Reyna Roberts and Amber Riley

Reyna Roberts and Amber Riley perform onstage during Day 2 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola at Caesars Superdome — Reyna Roberts and Amber Riley.
Aaron J. Thornton/Getty

09 of 30

Method Man

Method Man speaks onstage during the 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture — Method Man.
Paras Griffin/Getty

10 of 30

Regina Hall and Sanaa Lathan

Regina Hall and Sanaa Lathan speak onstage during Day 2 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola — Regina Hall and Sanaa Lathan.
Josh Brasted/Getty

11 of 30

Meagan Good and Cory Hardrict

Meagan Good, Cory Hardrict 30th Essence Festival of Culture — Meagan Good, Cory Hardrict.
Soul Brother/Soul B Photos/Shutterstock

12 of 30

Lloyd

Lloyd performs onstage during Day 2 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola — Lloyd.
Aaron J. Thornton/Getty

13 of 30

Don Lemon

Don Lemon speaks onstage during the 2024 ESSENCE Festival — Don Lemon.
Arturo Holmes/Getty

14 of 30

Danielle Brooks, Jordan E. Cooper, Wayne Brady, Rivea Ruff, Bre-Z and Rhoyle Ivy King

Danielle Brooks, Jordan E. Cooper, Wayne Brady, Rivea Ruff, Bre-Z and Rhoyle Ivy King attend during 2024 ESSENCE Festival — Danielle Brooks, Jordan E. Cooper, Wayne Brady, Rivea Ruff, Bre-Z and Rhoyle Ivy King.
Cindy Ord/Getty

15 of 30

Colman Domingo

Colman Domingo attends the 2024 ESSENCE Festival — Colman Domingo.
Arturo Holmes/Getty

16 of 30

Charlie Wilson

Charlie Wilson performs onstage during Day 2 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola at Caesars Superdome — Bennett Raglin/Getty

17 of 30

Big Boi

Big Boi performs onstage during Day 2 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola at Caesars Superdome — Bennett Raglin/Getty

18 of 30

Ava DuVernay

Ava DuVernay attends the 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture — Ava DuVernay.
Cindy Ord/Getty

19 of 30

Al Sharpton

Al Sharpton speaks onstage during Day 2 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola at Caesars Superdome — Aaron J. Thornton/Getty

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Regina King

Regina King speaks onstage during Night 3 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture at Caesars Superdome — Regina King.
Paras Griffin/Getty

21 of 30

Victoria Monét

Victoria Monet performs onstage during Day 3 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola at Caesars Superdome — Victoria Monét.
Aaron J. Thornton/Getty

22 of 30

LeLee Lyons, Coko and Taj George of SWV

LeLee Lyons, Coko and Taj George from SWV seen backstage during Day 3 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola at Caesars Superdome — LeLee Lyons, Coko and Taj George from SWV.
Bennett Raglin/Getty

23 of 30

Big Tigger and Keke Palmer

Big Tigger and Keke Palmer speak onstage during Day 3 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola at Caesars Superdome — Big Tigger and Keke Palmer.
Aaron J. Thornton/Getty

24 of 30

Tyrese

Tyrese from TGT performs onstage during Day 2 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola at Caesars Superdome on July 06, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. — Tyrese.
Bennett Raglin/Getty

25 of 30

Busta Rhymes

Busta Rhymes performs onstage during Day 1 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola at Caesars Superdome on July 05, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. — Busta Rhymes.
Bennett Raglin/Getty

26 of 30

Serena Williams

Serena Williams speaks onstage during the 2024 — Serena Williams.
Erika Goldring/Getty

27 of 30

Mickey Guyton

Mickey Guyton performs onstage during Day 1 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola at Caesars Superdome on July 05, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. — Mickey Guyton.
Bennett Raglin/Getty

28 of 30

Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne performs onstage during Day 1 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola at Caesars Superdome on July 05, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. — Lil Wayne.
Bennett Raglin/Getty

29 of 30

Anthony Mackie

Anthony Mackie essence festival of culture new orleans 07 07 24 — Anthony Mackie.
Paras Griffin/Getty

30 of 30

Pretty Vee

Pretty Vee onstage during Day 1 of the 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola at Caesars Superdome on July 05, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. ( — Pretty Vee.
Bennett Raglin/Getty

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