FRESH FROM THE OSCARS STAGE IN HOLLYWOOD!
(March 20, 2026) Singer, songwriter, actress, and entrepreneur Teyana Taylor sits at the helm of one of the largest music festivals in the country.
Fresh off the Oscars stage in Hollywood, Teyana and her creative company, The Aunties, as Chief Curator for 2026, will change the weekend in ways organizers proclaim you will feel from the first day to the last.
She Is Not Just a Name on a Press Release...
She's more than the entry on an awards ceremony envelope.
The Essence Black Women in Hollywood honoree. Golden Globe winner. Oscar-nominated actress and GRAMMY-nominated singer. We have watched her build The Aunties into one of the most intentional creative companies working right now. What she does, across music, film, fashion, and stage design, is exactly what will shape the full Festival of Culture experience from the moment you walk through the doors on July 3 to the moment the lights come up on July 5.
In her words: "ESSENCE has always been more than a festival — it is a reunion. I'm a true Auntie. The one in your corner, cheering you on, telling you the truth with love, and making sure every room you walk into knows you belong there. That's what I'm bringing to this programming."
That is the energy we are coming with this summer. Teyana and The Aunties work directly with our programming, talent, and community teams, shaping the mainstage, the daytime experiences, and the moments in between so the entire weekend tells one cohesive and uplifting story.
So don't miss the high-energy presence that was the talk of the awards season this year in one of the "sauciest cities in the world," New Orleans.
Teyana Taylor is not new to this; she's "true to this!" This time she's gracing the stage as a "real boss!"
For more ticket information, visit: https://www.essence.com/essencefestival2026/...
