ESSENCE Festival of Culture® Presented by Coca-Cola® Unveils 2026 Cultural Curators Mara Brock Akil, Nikole Hannah-Jones, and Nina Compton, Joining Chief Curator Teyana Taylor

NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® will welcome Mara Brock Akil, Nikole Hannah-Jones, and Nina Compton, as its 2026 Cultural Curators, joining previously announced Chief Curator Teyana Taylor in shaping the experiences that define this year’s festival.

Their work will take shape across the festival in distinct ways, each rooted in their discipline. From what is written and discussed, to what is screened and shared, to what is served and experienced, each curator will define how their space is built and felt. Together, those experiences connect across the weekend, creating a festival that moves with intention from one moment to the next, with Taylor guiding the overall creative direction.

Within that framework, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and Founder of The North Star Books + Bar Nikole Hannah-Jones will lead nonfiction programming, while award-winning showrunner, producer, and author Mara Brock Akil will lead the fiction experience at the Book Festival @ ESSENCE Authors, drawing from her work across television and her forthcoming debut novel, The Revelation of Dionne Daphne, together guiding conversations around how Black life is documented, imagined, and passed down.

James Beard Award–winning chef Nina Compton returns as curator for the ESSENCE Food & Wine Festival™, bringing a perspective shaped by her Caribbean roots and New Orleans home to build a culinary experience that honors tradition while reflecting how Black food culture continues to evolve.

Across each pillar, their work will define how audiences move through the festival, connecting moments across storytelling, food, and community into a shared experience that unfolds throughout the weekend.

Book the flight. Text the group chat. The ESSENCE 360 app is where the weekend comes together, with personalized itineraries, exclusive offers, and real-time updates across the ESSENCE Festival of Culture® experience.

Tickets for the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® Evening Concert Series are on sale now. Follow @ESSENCEFest on X, Facebook, and Instagram to stay connected.

About Sundial Media & Technology Group

Sundial Media & Technology Group (SMTG) is a human connections platform redefining the future of media. With more than 100 years of storytelling expertise and audience insight, SMTG is transforming the traditional media model into a technology-enabled ecosystem designed to foster belonging, drive influence, and scale economic opportunity. Its portfolio includes some of the most iconic purpose-driven brands and experiences in culture today, including ESSENCE (Girls United, ESSENCE Studios, ESSENCE Festival of Culture®), Refinery29, AFROPUNK, Beautycon™, the Global Black Economic Forum, and the Academy for Advancing Excellence. Through strategic storytelling, data-powered platforms, and products built for cultural impact, SMTG is where connection becomes currency.