Atlanta Turns Three Days of Wealth, Culture and Black Excellence Into a Movement at Invest Fest
Atlanta was already buzzing by Friday, August 7, as Invest Fest 2026 officially moved into its first full day of programming at the Georgia World Congress Center. Presented by Earn Your Leisure founders Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings, the sixth annual gathering brought together entrepreneurs, investors, executives, entertainers, creators and financial educators for a weekend built around ownership, wealth creation and opportunity. Friday’s run of show opened with the Invest Fest Seminar Series, followed by workshops designed to give attendees practical information across business, investing, branding, technology and financial literacy. The Invest Fest Vendor Marketplace, presented by Ms. Business, gave founders and small-business owners another platform to showcase their companies, products and services directly to thousands of attendees. With more than 30,000 tickets sold for the weekend, the energy inside the convention center made it clear that Invest Fest had grown far beyond a conference and into one of Atlanta’s defining annual gatherings.
Friday’s educational programming established the tone for everything that followed, blending financial strategy with entrepreneurship, culture and personal development. The opening-day roster featured voices including Troy Millings, Rashad Bilal, Ian Dunlap, 19Keys, Thasunda Brown Duckett, Mike Novogratz, John Morgan, Julian Brown, Magda Delgado, Dan Fleyshman, Sinead Bovell, Dr. Paul Judge, Alicia Lyttle and Ms. Business, among many others. Conversations throughout the day expanded into technology, artificial intelligence, real estate, investing, taxes, business development, wellness and the future of work, reinforcing the festival’s signature philosophy that wealth can be created through multiple avenues. The marketplace added another layer, allowing entrepreneurs such as Andrea Kamara of Jollof Bowl, Sierra Glamshop, Jesseca Harris-Dupart, Kika Wise, Derrick Hayes of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks and countless emerging founders to connect with consumers and potential partners. By the time the daytime programming wound down, attendees had already been given a full day of information, networking and inspiration before Atlanta’s nightlife took center stage.
Then came Friday night’s Invest Fest After Dark, beginning with the VIP Black-Tie Gala and transforming the business conference into an unmistakably Atlanta celebration. T.I. and Jermaine Dupri were honored during the evening, recognizing two hometown icons whose careers have expanded from music into entrepreneurship, ownership and legacy building. T.I. spoke about the business decisions that he says have positioned his family for financial security across generations, while former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms spoke about leadership and the importance of representing the community. Jagged Edge delivered one of the night’s standout performances, bringing Atlanta R&B nostalgia and hometown pride into a room filled with entrepreneurs and cultural tastemakers. Kenny Burns and Big Bank were also part of the evening’s featured lineup, making Friday’s transition from financial education to Atlanta nightlife feel seamless.
By Saturday morning, August 8, the energy shifted back toward education as the second day of Invest Fest programming opened with the EYL University Stage and another full slate of seminars, panels and workshops. Steve Harvey, Nick Cannon, Anthony Anderson, Thasunda Brown Duckett, John Morgan, Terrence J, Vic Mensa and Earn Your Leisure’s leadership were among the names associated with Saturday’s programming, while the broader lineup included, Joey Bada$$, Van Lathan Jr., Jim Jones, Touré Roberts, Porsha Williams, Ray Daniels, Louis Carr and Kendra G. One of the day’s marquee conversations brought Steve Harvey and Nick Cannon together, with Terrence J hosting a discussion centered on generations of greatness, entrepreneurship and legacy. The EYL University programming continued to turn the convention center into a classroom, covering everything from financial education and business strategy to real estate, investing and personal development. The result was a Saturday that felt less like simply attending panels and more like spending an entire day inside an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Saturday’s programming also placed a strong spotlight on the intersection of money and culture, with entertainment figures, founders and business executives sharing the same stages. Vic Mensa, Hitmaka, Rico Love, Serayah, and Keith Lee represented different corners of entertainment, media, fashion, food, music and entrepreneurship. Financial and business voices including , Nicole Lapin, David Shands, Karlton Dennis, Ash Cash, Donni Wiggins, Dr. Gwennetta Wright, Caleb Silver, Brad Zucker, Anna Nerys, Saher Khan and Alvin Odom brought the conversation back to investing, taxes, capital and long-term financial strategy. Technology was equally prominent, with discussions touching artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency and emerging opportunities for entrepreneurs, while Brandon Johnson of NVIDIA and other technology-focused founders helped frame what the next economy could look like. The Invest Fest Vendor Marketplace, presented by Ms. Business, remained an important part of Saturday’s experience, keeping the entrepreneurial community visible beyond the stages. And amid all the education, the festival continued to prove that business conversations can coexist effortlessly with celebrity, music and culture.
As the convention center programming came to a close Saturday evening, Atlanta’s Invest Fest crowd once again moved from the conference floor into the city for another round of Invest Fest After Dark. The official Invest Fest 2026 VIP After Party offered guaranteed admission and expedited entry, while the PVO x Invest Fest Party at Rose & Rye extended the celebration deep into the night. With the PVO gathering scheduled from 7 p.m. until 3 a.m., the second night demonstrated just how completely Invest Fest had taken over Atlanta’s social calendar. Entrepreneurs, celebrities, creators, investors and nightlife tastemakers were able to continue the conversations that started inside the Georgia World Congress Center in a much more relaxed setting. It was another reminder that at Invest Fest, networking does not necessarily stop when the final panel ends—it simply changes locations.
Sunday’s final programming continued to showcase the remarkable breadth of the Invest Fest community, with voices including Mike Novogratz, Keith Lee, La La Anthony, Angela Simmons, Ross Mac, Melyssa Ford, Dr. Jatali, Olajuwon Ajanaku, Brandon Butler, Olivia Griffian of Serena Ventures, Master P and many others represented throughout the schedule. The day also continued conversations around artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, real estate, financial markets, business ownership, media and the future of entrepreneurship. The Pitch Competition and Authors Corneradded additional dimensions to the weekend, giving founders and storytellers opportunities to place their ideas directly in front of the Invest Fest audience. The festival’s marketplace and partner community remained central to the experience, reinforcing the idea that economic empowerment is strongest when information, resources and relationships are shared. By Sunday afternoon, Invest Fest had delivered three consecutive days in which the pursuit of wealth was treated not simply as a financial goal, but as a pathway toward freedom, ownership and generational impact.
The final daytime moments also carried the weight of Atlanta itself, particularly as the festival continued conversations about its relationship with the city. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens joined Earn Your Leisure founders Troy Millings and Rashad Bilal for a discussion about the progress and future of Invest Fest in Atlanta, an appearance that came after a public disagreement surrounding the city’s support of the event. The conversation represented an opportunity to move forward while highlighting the economic and cultural significance of a festival that brought tens of thousands of people into Atlanta. With entrepreneurs filling the marketplace, hotels selling out and businesses throughout the city benefiting from the influx of visitors, Invest Fest once again demonstrated its impact beyond the convention center. The weekend had also included The LOX event, Kendra G’s “Singles” experience and the Pitch Competition, creating a schedule that stretched from serious conversations about capital to entertainment and culture. In that sense, the closing conversations felt less like an ending and more like a blueprint for what the next chapter of Invest Fest could become.
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