The latest major festival to join a string of cancellations and postponements due to the coronavirus crisis is New Orleans' Essence Festival. Today the festival, which was set to take place over July 4th weekend in New Orleans at the Superdome, announced they'll look ahead to returning in 2021.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“We are confirming today that we will no longer move forward with the 2020 ESSENCE Festival of Culture live experience – and look forward to returning to New Orleans in 2021.” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EssenceFest?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EssenceFest</a> <a href="https://t.co/4GIuk3aYaV">https://t.co/4GIuk3aYaV</a></p>— ESSENCE Festival (@essencefest) <a href="https://twitter.com/essencefest/status/1250413312510230528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
This year's lineup was a stellar one, with headliners Janet Jackson, who made her Essence Fest debut in 2010, Bruno Mars, Ari Lennox, Janelle Monáe and Patti LaBelle. The cancellation follows last month's initial postponement until closer to fall and just one day after New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell recommended all major events in the city should be cancelled for the rest of 2020.
“New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell bravely recommended yesterday that no large events take place in New Orleans in 2020, and ESSENCE fully supports that decision,” the festival organizers said in a statement.
Essence also announced it will instead host the first-ever Essence Festival of Culture: The Virtual Edition over July 4th weekend. During the multiday experience and benefit celebration, "Women across the globe and their families will engage in interactive, live opportunities to be inspired, empowered, entertained and transformed as they enter a new economic, spiritual and wellness journey ahead."
The virtual event will benefit the city of New Orleans. For more information, and for ticket refund details, visit the festival website.
Streaming Is Down, Festivals Are Dark: How Music Is Coping With COVID-19
