After two years as a fully virtual event, Essence Festival is officially back in New Orleans this summer for an in-person celebration of music and Black culture. The 27th edition of the festival runs through July 3 and includes live performances from powerhouse artists like Nicki Minaj, Lauryn Hill and Patti LaBelle. Here are some of the famous faces who descended upon the Big Easy for a weekend of fun. 📸: Paras Griffin and Bennett Raglin, Getty Images