As the Essence Festival of Culture negotiates with city and state officials ahead of the 2026 event in New Orleans, Essence representatives this week pledged to remedy last year’s hiccups and enact changes that could require more city and state support.

Last year’s four-day summit of Black music, culture and wellness at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the Caesars Superdome generated $345 million in economic activity for New Orleans, per one estimate by Dillard University.

But there were obvious problems a year later, the festival’s first under a new leadership team: The nightly concert lineup was first released in April, but additional acts were added just a week before the event. The Superdome shows ran well into the morning hours. And the popular, mini-concert Superloung

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