NEW ORLEANS – This year’s ESSENCE Festival of Culture team announced they will have Book Festival: ESSENCE Authors, bringing in over 40 big names in the literary world to discuss their work, along with dedicated book signings and panel moments that cover the enthralling topics and characters behind their bestselling and upcoming books. And the genres run the gamut, from fiction and nonfiction to poetry and children’s literature. And just as in 2025, the adjacent Authors Bookstore is returning, which will house a large collection of books by Black authors and expose guests to titles they may never have seen, turning conversations into commerce that benefits the writers.
To make things even more exclusive, two heavy-hitting storytellers are helping to curate programming at ESSENCE Authors this year: Award-winning showrunner, writer, producer and author Mara Brock Akil, who is presenting her upcoming debut novel, “The Revelation of Dionne Daphne;” as well as Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the founder of the North Star Books + Bar, Nikole Hannah-Jones. They will shape the conversations that center the ways in which Black life, in all its complexity, is documented.
Esteemed writers festivalgoers will be able to hear on stage at Book Festival: Amena Brown, Arian Simone, Ashton Lattimore, Ayana Gray, Dr. Bernice King, Carla Hall, Damario Solomon-Simmons, Deesha Philyaw, Demond Martin, Derrick Barnes, Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz, Jamilah Lemieux, Jaylene Clark Owens, Kimberle Crenshaw, Dr. Kemi Doll, Mychal Threets, Sarita Lyons, Tareasa “Reesa Teesa” Johnson, Tayari Jones, and Tiffany Cross, just to name “a few.”
And most importantly to the team, this year’s event will be powered by New Orleans-based institution, Community Book Center (@readabc) and its founder and owner, Vera “Mama Vera” Warren-Williams.
Michelle Obama
As previously announced, former First Lady Michelle Obama will bring her limited companion podcast series, IMO: The Look, to the Superdome main stage for a special live conversation. The moment will be led by an extra special guest host. The podcast is from Higher Ground, the media company co-founded by her and President Barack Obama. The conversation will trace her style from the early days in the spotlight during President Obama’s U.S. Senate campaign to her time in the White House as the first Black First Lady, as she speaks about the unapologetically posh personal style she embraced before the world.
Music
In addition to getting excited over Michelle Obama, attendees can also expect top-tier performances throughout the weekend. That includes showcases from Cardi B, Kehlani, Latto, SZN4, Josh Levi, Leon Thomas, Brandy & Monica, Patti LaBelle, Doug E. Fresh, Public Enemy, Babyface, George Clinton, and Parliament-Funkadelic with famous friends Durand Bernarr, Nona Hendryx, Big Freedia, Big Boi, and Scarface.