As the self-proclaimed “concert queen,” I’ve danced my way through countless venues, basking in the euphoria that only live music can deliver.
From the heart-thumping bass of my favorite hip-hop anthems to the soulful serenades of R&B legends, my adventures have been a harmonious blend of rhythm, culture, and, of course, delectable cuisine. Each festival I’ve attended has been a unique chapter in my live music journey, offering not just performances but immersive experiences that celebrate art, community, and flavor.
Reflecting on my escapades, festivals like Rolling Loud, Roots Picnic, Essence Fest, and One Music Fest have been more than just events—they’ve been transformative odysseys.
The electrifying energy of the crowds, the discovery of emerging artists, and the shared moments of unity have solidified my love for these gatherings. They are living testaments to music’s unparalleled ability to bridge divides and foster a sense of belonging.
As 2025 unfolds, the festival circuit is buzzing with anticipation, promising an array of events that are sure to ignite your musical passions. Whether you’re a seasoned festival-goer or a curious newcomer, here’s a curated list of must-attend festivals that should be on your radar:
Rolling Loud California (Los Angeles, CA) - March 15-16, 2025
Sexyy Red
Scott Legato/ Getty Images
Kicking off the festival season with a bang, Rolling Loud returns to Los Angeles, promising a weekend of unparalleled hip-hop performances. This year’s lineup is nothing short of spectacular, with headliners like A$AP Rocky and Playboi Carti set to ignite the stage. Adding a unique flair, Mexican sensation Peso Pluma joins as a special guest, bringing his distinctive sound to the mix.
Tickets are flying off the shelves, with General Admission passes starting at $179 and VIP options offering exclusive perks for $499. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Los Angeles, attendees can indulge in the city’s eclectic food scene, making this festival a feast for both the ears and the taste buds.
2025 Performers: A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, YG, Sexyy Red, Quavo, Gelo, Bossman Dlow, Peso Pluma
2024 Performers: Nicki Minaj, Post Malone, Future x Metro Boomin, YG & Tyga, Party Next Door, Summer Walker, Don Toliver, Bryson Tiller, Big Sean, Sexyy Red
Dreamville Festival (Raleigh, NC) - April 5-6, 2025
Curated by the legendary J. Cole, Dreamville Festival has swiftly become a beacon for hip-hop and R&B aficionados. Nestled in Raleigh’s scenic Dorothea Dix Park, the festival offers more than just music; it’s a celebration of community and culture. While the official 2025 lineup is under wraps, whispers in the wind suggest appearances by heavyweights, making this final edition a grand finale not to be missed.
Ticket options cater to various preferences, with General Admission passes and VIP packages that promise an elevated experience. Beyond the music, attendees can explore Raleigh’s burgeoning culinary scene, with the festival itself offering a smorgasbord of local delights.
2025 Performers: TBA
2024 Performers: SZA, 50 Cent, J. Cole, Nicki Minaj, J.I.D., Lil Yatchy, Schoolboy Q, Sexyy Red, Jeremiah, Rema, Jeezy, Monica, and more.
EmpowHER Festival (Los Angeles, CA) - May 10, 2025
Kehlani
Photo by Erika Goldring/WireImage
EmpowHER Festival isn’t just a festival; it’s a movement celebrating women’s empowerment, creativity, and artistry. Set in the heart of Los Angeles, this one-day extravaganza brings together female artists for a day of unforgetttable performances. While this is the inaugural festival, the incredible lineup includes trailblazers like Kehlani and Jazmine Sullivan making it a must-attend for those passionate about female empowerment.
Early bird General Admission (GA) tickets are currently available at a 20% discount, bringing the price to under $200. As the festival date approaches, ticket prices are expected to increase, so securing your spot early is recommended. For the most up-to-date ticket information and purchases, visit the official EmpowHER website or authorized ticket vendors.
2025 Performers: Kehlani, Jazmine Sullivan, Normani, Saweetie, Flo Milli, and more.
Roots Picnic (Philadelphia, PA) - May 31-June 1, 2025
Curated by the legendary Roots crew, Roots Picnic is a melting pot of music, culture, and activism. Having grooved my way through its vibrant atmosphere before, I can attest to its eclectic lineups that span genres from hip-hop to indie rock. The 2025 edition promises to uphold this tradition, with anticipated performances from both established and emerging artists.
Ticket information and lineup announcements are typically released closer to the event date. Philadelphia’s rich history and vibrant food scene further enhance the festival experience, offering attendees a chance to explore the city’s cultural landmarks and culinary offerings.
2025 Performers: D’Angelo, Meek Mill, Lenny Kravitz, GloRilla, Miguel, Tems, Latto, Kaytranada, Jeezy, Pusha T & 2 Chainz, Musiq Soulchild, The Roots, and more.
2024 Performers: Jill Scott, Lil Wayne, Nas, Victoria Monét, Gunna, Fantasia, Muni Long, Method Man & Redman, Scarface, Amerie, Sexyy Red, Babyface, Wale, Tyla, and more.
BET Experience (Los Angeles, CA) - June 5-8, 2025
Cardi B
Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for BET
The BET Experience is a multi-day celebration leading up to the annual BET Awards, featuring concerts, celebrity panels, and interactive exhibits. Held in Los Angeles, this event captures the essence of Black culture and entertainment.
Details about the 2025 lineup and ticket pricing are yet to be announced, but past experiences have included performances by top artists and exclusive access to industry events, making it a cornerstone event for music lovers.
2025 Performers: TBA
2024 Performers: Cardi B, Gunna, Davido, Sexyy Red, The Roots, Queen Latifah, Common, and more.
Essence Fest (New Orleans, LA) - July 3-6, 2025
Essence Fest, affectionately known as the “party with a purpose,” is a vibrant celebration of Black culture, music, and empowerment. My previous escapades at this festival were nothing short of magical, with its blend of soulful performances, enlightening panel discussions, and a community atmosphere that feels like a family reunion. The 2025 edition is expected to feature a stellar lineup of artists, though official announcements are pending.
Tickets typically range from General Admission to VIP packages, catering to a variety of preferences and budgets. Set in the lively city of New Orleans, attendees can also immerse themselves in the local culture, savoring Creole cuisine and exploring historic sites, making it a holistic cultural experience.
2025 Performers: TBA
2024 Performers: Birdman, Usher, Janet Jackson, The Roots, Mickey Guyton, Busta Rhymes, Charlie Wilson, Victoria Monét, SWV, Frankie Beverly, Tank, Ginuwine, Tyrese, and more.
Broccoli City Festival (Washington, D.C.) – July 12-13, 2025
Victoria Monét
Photo by Kaitlyn Morris/Getty Images
If you’re looking for a festival that brings the vibes and the vision, Broccoli City Festival is it! Taking over Washington, D.C., this two-day celebration is more than just a music festival—it’s a movement. Dedicated to uplifting Black culture, sustainability, and community empowerment, BC Fest blends fire performances with social impact, making you feel good inside and out.
The 2025 lineup is still under wraps, but if past years are any indication (think: Lil Wayne, Megan Thee Stallion, and Burna Boy), we’re in for a show. Plus, with D.C. as the backdrop, you already know the food is going to be top-tier. Expect local eats, poppin’ day parties, and a city full of festival-goers keeping the energy high all weekend long. Whether you’re there for the music, the mission, or just the chance to rock a fly festival fit, BC Fest is a must for your summer lineup.
2025 Performers: TBA
2024 Performers: Megan Thee Stallion, Victoria Monét, Gunna, Kaytranada, Party Next Door, Lil Yaychy, Teezo Touchdown, Fridayy, Skilla Baby, Sexyy Red, Key Glock, and more.
One Music Fest (Atlanta, GA) - October TBA, 2025
As an Atlanta native, One Music Fest holds a special place in my heart. This festival has consistently showcased a diverse array of artists, reflecting the rich musical heritage of the city. While the exact dates and lineup for 2025 are yet to be confirmed, past festivals have featured a mix of hip-hop, R&B, and alternative acts that cater to a wide audience.
Ticket pricing and performer details will be announced as the event approaches. In the meantime, festival-goers can look forward to exploring Atlanta’s dynamic food scene and cultural landmarks, making it a holistic experience that celebrates both music and community
2025 Performers: TBA
2024 Performers: Latto, Gunna, Earth, Wind, & Fire, Nelly, Victoria Monet, GloRilla, Keyshia Cole, Sexyy Red, Ari Lennox, Fantasia, Method Man & Redman, and more.
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RELATED
So, we handpicked one hundred It Girls who embody that palpable It Factor moving through us as young Black women, the kind of motion lighting up the world both IRL and across the internet.
It Girl 100 became xoNecole’s most successful program, with the hashtag organically reaching more than forty million impressions on Instagram in just twenty-four hours. Yes, it caught on like wildfire because we celebrated some of the most brilliant and influential GenZennial women of color setting trends and shaping culture. But more than that, it resonated because the women we celebrated felt seen.
Many were already known in their industries for keeping this generation fly and lit, but rarely received recognition or flowers. It Girl 100 became a safe space to be uplifted, and for us as Black women to bask in what felt like an era of our brilliance, beauty, and boundless influence on full display.
And then, almost overnight, it was as if the rug was pulled from under us as Black women, as the It Girls of the world.
Our much-needed, much-deserved season of ease and soft living quickly metamorphosed into a time of self-preservation and survival. Our motion and economic progression seemed strategically slowed, our light under siege.
The air feels heavier now. The headlines colder. Our Black girl magic is being picked apart and politicized for simply existing.
With that climate shift, as we prepare to launch our second annual It Girl 100 honoree list, our team has had to dig deep on the purpose and intention behind this year’s list. Knowing the spirit of It Girl 100 is about motion, sauce, strides, and progression, how do we celebrate amid uncertainty and collective grief when the juice feels like it is being squeezed out of us?
As we wrestled with that question, we were reminded that this tension isn’t new. Black women have always had to find joy in the midst of struggle, to create light even in the darkest corners. We have carried the weight of scrutiny for generations, expected to be strong, to serve, to smile through the sting. But this moment feels different. It feels deeply personal.
We are living at the intersection of liberation and backlash. We are learning to take off our capes, to say no when we are tired, to embrace softness without apology.
And somehow, the world has found new ways to punish us for it.
In lifestyle, women like Kayla Nicole and Ayesha Curry have been ridiculed for daring to choose themselves. Tracee Ellis Ross was labeled bitter for speaking her truth about love. Meghan Markle, still, cannot breathe without critique.
In politics, Kamala Harris, Letitia James, and Jasmine Crockett are dragged through the mud for standing tall in rooms not built for them.
In sports, Angel Reese, Coco Gauff, and Taylor Townsend have been reminded that even excellence will not shield you from racism or judgment.
In business, visionaries like Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye and Melissa Butler are fighting to keep their dreams alive in an economy that too often forgets us first.
Even our icons, Beyoncé, Serena, and SZA, have faced criticism simply for evolving beyond the boxes society tried to keep them in.
From everyday women to cultural phenoms, the pattern is the same. Our light is being tested.
And yet, somehow, through it all, we are still showing up as that girl, and that deserves to be celebrated.
Because while the world debates our worth, we keep raising our value. And that proof is all around us.
This year alone, Naomi Osaka returned from motherhood and mental health challenges to reach the semifinals of the US Open. A’ja Wilson claimed another MVP, reminding us that beauty and dominance can coexist. Brandy and Monica are snatching our edges on tour. Kahlana Barfield Brown sold out her new line in the face of a retailer that had been canceled. And Melissa Butler’s company, The Lip Bar, is projecting a forty percent surge in sales.
We are no longer defining strength by how much pain we can endure. We are defining it by the unbreakable light we continue to radiate.
We are the women walking our daily steps and also continuing to run solid businesses. We are growing in love, taking solo trips, laughing until it hurts, raising babies and ideas, drinking our green juice, and praying our peace back into existence.
We are rediscovering the joy of rest and realizing that softness is not weakness, it is strategy.
And through it all, we continue to lift one another. Emma Grede is creating seats at the table. Valeisha Butterfield has started a fund for jobless Black women. Arian Simone is leading in media with fearless conviction. We are pouring into each other in ways the world rarely sees but always feels.
So yes, we are in the midst of societal warfare. Yes, we are being tested. Yes, we are facing economic strain, political targeting, and public scrutiny. But even war cannot dim a light that is divinely ours.
And we are still shining.
And we are still softening.
And we are still creating.
And we are still It.
That is the quiet magic of Black womanhood, our ability to hold both truth and triumph in the same breath, to say yes, and to life’s contradictions.
It is no coincidence that this year, as SheaMoisture embraces the message “Yes, And,” they stand beside us as partners in celebrating this class of It Girls. Because that phrase, those two simple words, capture the very essence of this moment.
Yes, we are tired. And we are still rising.
Yes, we are questioned. And we are the answer.
Yes, we are bruised. And we are still beautiful.
This year’s It Girl 100 is more than a list. It is a love letter to every Black woman who dares to live out loud in a world that would rather she whisper. This year’s class is living proof of “Yes, And,” women who are finding ways to thrive and to heal, to build and to rest, to lead and to love, all at once.
It is proof that our joy is not naive, our success not accidental. It is the reminder that our light has never needed permission.
So without further ado, we celebrate the It Girl 100 Class of 2025–2026.
We celebrate the millions of us who keep doing it with grace, grit, and glory.
Because despite it all, we still shine.
Because we are still her.
Because we are still IT, girl.
Meet all 100 women shaping culture in the It Girl 100 Class of 2025. View the complete list of honorees here.
Featured image by xoStaff
Last year, our inaugural It Girl 100 list featured the best of the best in their regions. This year, we are highlighting women from each field. Their impact can be felt across multiple industries as they continue to use their voices to uplift those around them.
The Category Is... Culture & Entertainment:
Culture and entertainment continues to be one of the most popular industries for creative women. Whether it's comedy or singing, these ladies keep the culture buzzing and timelines lit.
The Category Is... Sports & Wellness:
With the renewed interest in the WNBA, women are showing we can dominate in any field. Women are making waves in sports and wellness due to their strength, innovation, and determination.
The Category Is... Style Innovators:
From Instagram to Pinterest, these women are on our mood boards. Their love for beauty, hair, and fashion translates in their work and inspires others to be their best selves.
The Category Is... Business:
There's nothing like a woman about her business. From signing checks to closing deals, women are taking ambition to a new level.
The Category Is... Viral Voices:
Whenever they speak, people listen proving they can move mountains with their voices alone. You can find these women on the internet keeping us entertained and/or informed.
Meet all 100 women shaping culture in the It Girl 100 Class of 2025. View the complete list here.
Featured image by xoStaff