Invest Fest returned to Atlanta, bringing more than 30,000 people together for a weekend centered on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, investing, ownership and culture. Created by Earn Your Leisure founders Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings, the sixth annual gathering once again took over the Georgia World Congress Center, attracting entrepreneurs, investors, executives, entertainers, creators and aspiring business owners from across the country. What has continued to separate Invest Fest from a traditional business conference is its ability to make conversations about money, investing and entrepreneurship accessible while placing them directly alongside entertainment and culture.

This year added a new level of sophistication to the weekend with the first Invest Fest Black Tie VIP Gala on Friday evening. Held at Southern Exchange Ballrooms, the invitation only celebration brought together business leaders, celebrities, entrepreneurs and some of Atlanta's most recognizable names. T.I. and Jermaine Dupri were among the evening's honorees, recognizing two Atlanta figures whose careers have extended far beyond music into entrepreneurship, ownership and investments. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms also took the stage during the gala. Guests included Big Meech, Monyetta Shaw, Dr. Yahki Awakened and other leaders and personalities who helped make the evening an impressive opening to the weekend.

Once the conference moved into its major weekend programming, Invest Fest delivered one of its most diverse lineups yet. Serena Williams was among the major names taking the stage, bringing the perspective of an athlete who has successfully expanded her career into entrepreneurship and venture investing. Master P brought decades of experience in music, business and ownership, while La La Anthony discussed her expanding career across entertainment, production and entrepreneurship. Steve Harvey returned to Invest Fest, and Nick Cannon joined him for a conversation moderated by Terrence J that focused on lessons from their careers, business and building lasting brands.

The weekend also featured Ian Dunlap, Joey Bada$$, Keith Lee, Angela Simmons, Jim Jones, 19Keys, Michael Novogratz and numerous financial educators, executives, investors and entrepreneurs. Da Brat and Jesseca Harris Dupart, Porsha Williams, Serayah McNeill and Vic Mensa were also among the personalities seen throughout the weekend. The mix demonstrated the formula Invest Fest has continued to build around: putting established business leaders in the same environment as entertainers, emerging entrepreneurs and financial professionals.

Financial education remained at the center of the experience. Sessions explored investing, stocks, real estate, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, taxes, insurance, estate planning, business development and content creation. BlackRock presented discussions examining markets, artificial intelligence, digital assets and emerging investment opportunities, while additional programming covered ETFs, retirement planning, business succession, wealth preservation and strategies for creating generational wealth. Attendees could move from conversations about building a business to sessions breaking down investment strategies and then directly into discussions about protecting the wealth they create.

The Vendor Marketplace remained one of the busiest areas of Invest Fest, giving entrepreneurs an opportunity to place their businesses directly in front of thousands of potential customers. Businesses representing industries from financial services and technology to beauty, fashion, education and professional services filled the marketplace. For many entrepreneurs, the opportunity to make direct connections was just as valuable as the programming happening on the stages. Conversations that began at vendor booths, in hallways and inside networking areas had the potential to become customers, collaborations and future business relationships.

Invest Fest also continued its commitment to entrepreneurs seeking access to capital. The 2026 Open Pitch competition brought five startup finalists before investors and business leaders for an opportunity to secure a $125,000 investment. Master P and La La Anthony participated as judges, and the competition ultimately became one of the weekend's most memorable moments as the commitment to support emerging entrepreneurs went beyond simply talking about access to money.

Entertainment remained an important part of the experience as well. Invest Fest hosted a special screening and conversation surrounding "Trinity: The Story of The LOX," featuring Jadakiss, Styles P and Sheek Louch. The addition of conversations surrounding music, media and entertainment reinforced the broader point behind Invest Fest: wealth building does not belong to a single industry. Artists, athletes, creators, investors and traditional entrepreneurs are increasingly operating in the same business ecosystem.

But perhaps the strongest part of Invest Fest continues to be the people in the audience. Thousands arrived with businesses already operating, ideas still being developed and questions about how to create greater financial security. Throughout the Georgia World Congress Center, people exchanged information, introduced businesses, took photographs, attended book signings and formed connections with people they may never have encountered otherwise. Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings have built Invest Fest into an environment where financial conversations that once felt exclusive are discussed openly and on a massive scale.

Invest Fest 2026 showed just how much the event has grown since its inception. From Serena Williams discussing business and investment to Steve Harvey and Nick Cannon sharing lessons from decades in entertainment, Master P emphasizing ownership and entrepreneurship, and hundreds of businesses filling the marketplace, the weekend connected education with real world experience.

And the inaugural Black Tie VIP Gala gave this year's Invest Fest a fitting beginning. By celebrating Atlanta icons such as T.I. and Jermaine Dupri before opening the doors to a weekend focused on ownership and wealth, Invest Fest made its message clear. Success is not simply about earning money. It is about understanding how to build, invest, own and create something capable of lasting beyond you. For thousands who traveled to Atlanta for Invest Fest 2026, that conversation was once again the reason to be in the room.