New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell - Congo Square African Marketplace 2026

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell is a joyous and spirited celebration showcasing the authentic music and heritage of Louisiana and New Orleans. The Festival is one of the most prestigious and well-attended in the nation, attracting hundreds of thousands of people annually. This outdoor daytime celebration is held on the park-like infield and in the grandstand area of the historic Fair Grounds Race Course, featuring fourteen stages of music, plus art and traditional food.

The Congo Square African Marketplace is named in honor of the historic New Orleans landmark and site of the very first Jazz Fest. The highly competitive juried area will accept approximately fifty-two Artists and Vendors each weekend. Artists make handcrafted contributions to the art of the Diaspora, while Vendors present traditional handcrafted art from the African continent. Artwork must be handmade, reflecting the culture and heritage of the African Diaspora including Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas.

The Festival runs two weekends: April 23-26 and April 30-May 3, 2026, with hours of operation from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily. Applications require five images (4 of artwork, 1 of booth display) and a $35 application fee. The application deadline is December 2, 2025, with notifications emailed January 21, 2026. Artists must complete a Cultural Relevance Statement describing how their artwork represents the African Diaspora, and may display only the type of work represented in their submitted images.