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Essence Festival 2023: Who is in the lineup?

ESSENCE is back again with its annual Festival of Culture.

Tickets are still being sold for those looking to immerse themselves in the festivities starting Thursday, June 29, 2023.

Lauryn Hill will perform at the 2023 Essence Festival
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Lauryn Hill will perform at the 2023 Essence FestivalCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Essence Festival 2023: Who is in the lineup?

This year's Essence Festival lineup includes performances by:

  • Ms. Lauryn Hill
  • Megan Thee Stallion
  • Doug E. Fresh
  • Jermaine Dupri
  • Wizkid
  • Monica
  • Coco Jones
  • Kizz Daniel

The event will be hosted by comedians Deon Cole, Affion Crockett, Spice Adams, and Janelle James.

DJs will include DJ Clark Kent, Kid Capri, and DJ Spinderella.

Where is Essence Festival held and can I still buy tickets?

Live from New Orleans, Louisiana, the Essence Festival is back with tickets for new and repeat attendees.

This year, the event is celebrating the "50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop."

Tickets can be purchased online through . Customers can click on "BUY TICKETS NOW" in the top right corner of the , which will take them to the Ticketmaster page for "2023 Essence Festival of Culture - 3 Day Weekend Package."

The festival will be held from Thursday, June 29 to Monday, July 3, 2023, and will include both in-person and virtual elements.

What is Essence Music Festival?

The Essence Festival was created in 1995 and is a celebration of Black culture and resilience — more particularly in Black women — with this year celebrating 50 years of hip-hop.

As stated on the page of Essence's website, the 2023 festival will display "how hip-hop has impacted every aspect of culture – from fashion, food, men’s experiences, beauty, live performances nightly and more!

"Attendees will enjoy live performances from some of the most legendary emcees to grace a mic over the last 50 years.

"Through a suite of experiences like partner activations, meaningful conversations, powerful performances, and thought-provoking art installations, attendees will embark on a celebration of hip-hop’s rich history that proudly shows how hip-hop has been the nucleus for every corner of culture."

Megan Thee Stallion will also perform at the 2023 Essence Festival
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Megan Thee Stallion will also perform at the 2023 Essence FestivalCredit: Getty Images - Getty

As reported by , Hakeem Holmes, the new Vice President of Essence Festival of Culture, said: "For nearly three decades, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture has been an international and joyful gathering that empowers community throughout the global Black diaspora.

"As the nation’s largest festival by per day attendance, it continues to be a crown jewel of Black culture and plays a pivotal role in the amplification and celebration of the contributions of the Black community through business, music, and more.

"As we gear up to celebrate the ’50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop’, we couldn’t think of a better way to honor the contributions that genre has made on global culture and the impressions that these artists and their deep musical catalogs, which we all know so well, have been ingrained into the fibers of our day to day lives.

"This year, we are excited to have everyone join us in celebrating 50 years of musical excellence, experiencing our diverse daytime and nighttime offerings, and in highlighting the importance of Black economic inclusion."

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