NEW ORLEANS, LA — Hip Hop Caucus and New Orleans Katrina Commemoration Foundation will honor the 21st anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with a special press conference on Monday, August 24 and the Annual Hurricane Katrina March and Second Line on Saturday, August 29. Communities in and across New Orleans have gathered over the years to remember those lost in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, honor our collective tenacity, and demand justice for the Gulf Coast. On August 20th 2026, for the second year in a row New Orleans City Council made a proclamation recognizing the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina (Aug. 29th) as a citywide day of remembrance.
The Katrina Commemoration Inc. and Hip Hop Caucus continue to show up year after year in order to hold governmental officials accountable and build community power. This year’s 21st Annual Hurricane Katrina March will start in the Lower 9th Ward where the levees were breached, opening with a healing ceremony and a reading of the names of those who lost their lives. The commemoration will include a wealth of artists, government officials and New Orleans activists. Following the ceremony, attendees will then march through the streets where a brass band will join in as tradition for a New Orleans’ Second Line. The march will end at Hunter’s Field with speakers and performances, along with business vendors.
“This great body of organizers has done diligent work to make sure the citizens who lost their lives in 2005 aren’t forgotten while supporting the citizens who came back in 2005 and beyond to make sure that New Orleans is a great city to live in and through our collaborative efforts to thrive in,” said Sess-45, Founder of New Orleans Katrina Commemoration Inc.
Speakers include State Representatives Alonzo Knox and Candace Newell, City Councilmembers Freddie King, Lesli Harris, Eugene Green and Aimee McCarron.
“When we think about Katrina we should be thinking about that togetherness, how we joined hands, how we helped out our brothers and sisters and how we helped out complete strangers who became parts of our family,” said Matthew Willard, Division 1 Councilmember At-large. “We are all bonded by that awful tragedy but we came out on the other side stronger and we realize everyday we are stronger together.”
The Katrina Commemoration Inc. & Hip Hop Caucus continue to demand the following:
“What happened in the city of New Orleans in 2005 was a national atrocity bringing attention to governmental negligence and the climate crisis,” said Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., President & CEO of Hip Hop Caucus. “The anniversary of Katrina doesn’t have to be a rerun of painful memories, let us repurpose this day to honor loved ones and demand a better future for all.”
Below is a schedule of this year’s events:
Hurricane Katrina 21st Anniversary Commemorative Press Conference
The 21st Annual Katrina March, Second Line, and Rally
All members of the public, community organizations, and media are invited to attend and cover the events. To learn more about this year’s events and activities, visit katrina21.com.
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About New Orleans Katrina Commemoration Inc.
The New Orleans Katrina Commemoration Foundation was formed to remember the victims of Hurricane Katrina and uplift the legacy and ongoing demands for justice in communities most affected by the storm. Through public events, advocacy, and education, the foundation ensures the truth of Katrina is never forgotten. New Orleans Katrina Commemoration Inc. annually organizes the largest community-led remembrance event on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, August 29th.
About Hip Hop Caucus
Formed in 2004, Hip Hop Caucus is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, Hip Hop Caucus addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. Hip Hop Caucus programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.
