After a one-year hiatus, CURLFEST 2026 returned this weekend to Randall’s Island, bringing together thousands of attendees for a celebration of textured hair, culture, and community.
CURLFEST honors the glory of textured crowns, the richness of our skin, and the boundless joy of our culture,” said co-founder Charisse Higgins. Higgins is one of the five founders of CURLFEST as a member of the Curly Girl Collective, alongside Tracey Coleman, Gia Lowe, Simone Mair, and Melody Henderson.
What started as just an email thread evolved into the women curating small events around the city that would quickly sell out. As demand grew, they moved the event to Prospect Park in Brooklyn. A 500-person event turned into almost 2,000 people, and in 2014, CURLFEST was born, growing to a whopping 30,000 attendees at its peak.
This year, guests were treated to brand activations from iconic beauty brands such as Dark & Lovely, Carol’s Daughter, and Creme of Nature; a vibrant marketplace featuring dozens of Black and African-owned brands, and the Empowerment Stage, which hosted discussions on wellness, entrepreneurship, career development, and more.
Radio host Angela Yee set the tone for an incredible occasion by hosting an exclusive press reception. From there, festival hosts Anowa Adjah, Scott Bernard, and CoachCassfit kept the momentum going throughout the day.
One standout activation was by hair artist Susan “Susy” Oludele, also known as @hairbysusy, who is known for transforming textured hair into wearable art. For the installation, she crafted an 8-foot sculpture complete with Bantu knots, a traditional African hairstyle created by sectioning and twisting hair into small coiled buns.
“I love this festival,” said Oludele. “I had to come out, show out, and represent Africa. I just wanted to show people that Black hair is art, and I’m so excited to be here.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 25: The crowd at CURLFEST 2026 on Randall’s Island in New York City. (Photo by Gerold Picard Shellbair)
Over on the Empowerment Stage, one conversation that drew attention was the “Boss Up: Scaling Your Personal Brand in the Creator Economy” panel, moderated by the founder of Gyrl Wonder, Tola Lawal. The panel featured makeup artist Keanda “Keys” Vivar, entertainer Lala Milan, L’Oréal Marketing Director Keyanna Thompson, and Zeus Network producer Janeisha John.
Together, they discussed the importance of staying authentic in the digital space while navigating brand partnerships with both integrity and financial strategy. The conversation highlighted that building a personal brand requires balancing genuine self-expression while also making thoughtful business decisions.
Another memorable conversation was the HelloBeautiful panel, which featured Dosso Beauty founder Kadidja Dosso, makeup artist Jaleesa Jaikaran, Black Girl Sunscreen Senior Marketing Manager Candace Bullock, and En Love Beauty founder Gabrielle Zallina. The panel explored the importance of innovation, the experiences of scaling as a Black woman founder, and the role of transparency in building a successful beauty brand.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 25: Model Diarra Fall at CURLFEST 2026 on Randall’s Island in New York City. (Photo by Lea Raymond)
Overall, despite the heat and blazing sun, the festival served as a powerful celebration of beauty and a reminder of the importance of creating spaces where the next generation of curly girls can feel celebrated for who they are.
