Essence Festival of Culture - A Virtual Experience! The Essence Festival is going digital again this year with two back-to-back weekends of music, entertainment, empowerment and culture on June 25 to 27, and July 2 to 4, 2021. Can't miss content includes powerful daytime interactive sessions from trailblazing leaders and star-studded evening concerts. Two back to back weekends of thoughtfully curated panels, workshops, demos and activities just for us to uplift and support living out loud!