Returning for its fifth year, the largest BIPOC travel festival in the country lands in Charlotte, North Carolina.

BY LEROY ADAMS | MARCH 10, 2024

Last year, when we asked Evita Robinson, the award-winning storyteller and founder of the Nomadness Fest, how she chooses the host city for the annual travel festival, she summed it up with three guiding principles:

Does the city’s tourism board have a relationship with their Black and Brown community?
Is the city overshadowed by its larger counterparts (think San Antonio and Austin)?
Does the city’s tourism board have a history of supporting the NOMADNESS community?

Last week, the NOMADNESS team announced Charlotte, North Carolina will host their fifth NOMADNESS festival.

Their community of more than 35,000 travelers could not contain their excitement as the comments online ranged from anticipation of the event to appreciation for the the community and inclusive environment of previous festivals, excitement to apply as a speaker, and locals of the Queen City ecstatic to welcome the NOMADNESS community to their home.

The Queen City also joined in on the excitement with a message on their Explore Charlotte website to NOMADNESS and the Black community in Charlotte:

“Charlotte is proud to lift up the voices that unite our visitors and residents through partnerships like NOMADNESS Fest and Durag Festival. Charlotte’s black community contributes to the soul of the city and reinforces the character and strength that is within Charlotte.”

NOMADNESS Fest is a three day cultural experience, from September 12-15, 2024, featuring networking opportuinties in the travel industry, vendors, music, food, and “vibes that put travelers of color at the forefront of the conversation.” This year’s theme is “The Future is Ours: Reimagining BIPOC Travel” with festival programming tracks on: