Sunday, July 5 brought the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture to a close, and one moment made the entire Superdome stop and feel something: the star-studded tribute to Aaliyah. Curated by her longtime friend and collaborator Missy Elliott, the tribute honored the late singer’s legacy in the most beautiful way possible, and we’re still thinking about it.
Titled “One in a Million, Forever,” the tribute arrived right around the 30th anniversary of Aaliyah’s landmark album, and the timing couldn’t have felt more meaningful. Aaliyah actually performed at the very first ESSENCE Festival back in 1995 as a teenager, which made this full-circle moment on the same stage decades later even more special. Missy Elliott didn’t perform herself, but she curated the entire lineup with so much love and care, hand-picking a group of artists whose voices could do Aaliyah’s catalog justice.
The tribute featured an incredible group of performers, each bringing their own take on Aaliyah’s iconic sound and style. Mýa opened things up channeling major “Back & Forth” energy, later returning to deliver a soulful rendition of “At Your Best (You Are Love).”
(Photo credit: Getty Images for ESSENCE)
Ryan Destiny brought her vocals to “If Your Girl Only Knew,” while Normani (one-fifth of one of our favorite former girl groups Fifth Harmony) took on both “Try Again” and “Rock The Boat”, giving the crowd everything they wanted. Chlöe Bailey leaned into her own artistry while paying homage to Aaliyah’s discography, and Sevyn Streeter closed out her portion with a heartfelt performance that had everyone singing along.
(Photo credit: Getty Images for ESSENCE)
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Beyond the performances themselves, the tribute leaned into gorgeous styling choices that nodded to Aaliyah’s most iconic looks, from her signature silk presses to her effortlessly cool streetwear aesthetic. Missy Elliott also paused the show for a touching reflection on her late friend, with video messages from other artists Aaliyah influenced adding even more emotional weight to the night.
(Photo credit: Getty Images for ESSENCE)
Between the choreography, the styling, and the sheer emotion in the room, the Aaliyah tribute proved that her influence on R&B is just as strong today as it ever was. It was the perfect way to close out ESSENCE Festival’s final night, honoring a true icon while introducing her music to a whole new generation of fans.
That’s a wrap on our 2026 ESSENCE Festival recaps! From SZN4 and Kehlani to Brandy and Monica to this unforgettable Aaliyah tribute, this year’s festival reminded us why ESSENCE always brings the culture.
