Haitian artists, musicians and entrepreneurs were part of CultureCon 2026, a festival of Black creativity that drew about 12,000 people to the Brooklyn Navy Yard on October 3 and 4.

This year's theme was “Museum of Us.” Guests included Michael B. Jordan, John Legend, Mahershala Ali, Daniel Kaluuya and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, alongside workshops, a career lounge and a marketplace for Black-owned businesses.

Haitian American hair artist Kayra Theodore, part of the festival's 2026 Creative Class, uses braiding to tell stories. “My Haitian identity influences a lot about my work,” she said. “I took someone's ‘no’ and decided to make it my own ‘yes’ by teaching myself how to braid.”

Haitian-born, Queens-raised musician C!RND!E calls her sound “Konpa drill,” a mix of the cultures that shaped her. When she came across a Haitian food truck playing Caribbean music, she said, “I felt at home.” She hopes future editions will include panels focused on Haiti.

Visual artist Dimithry Victor, born in Haiti and raised in South Florida, also joined the Creative Class with portraits about Black identity and Haitian heritage. Rogers Burgers, the Haitian-owned Flatbush restaurant, served its Caribbean take on burgers, and Michael B. Jordan stopped by its booth.

“Everything we do as Haitian American creatives is for the people,” said Jeff Joy Fulcher, co-founder of Spread Da Wealth, who played chess with festivalgoers. “We are one.”