En Vogue — one of the most influential R&B groups of the last four decades — will be one of the headliners for Pride St. Louis’ PrideFest 2026 when the festival returns to downtown St. Louis on June 27 and 28.
En Vogue remains one of the most successful female vocal groups in modern music. Formed in 1989, the group has sold more than 20 million records worldwide and produced a series of major hits including “Hold On,” “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It),” “Free Your Mind,” “Whatta Man,” and “Don’t Let Go (Love).” Billboard has named them among the most successful girl groups of all time. Their career includes multiple Grammy nominations along with honors from the American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and Soul Train Awards.
Their blend of tight harmonies, polished vocals, and high-concept visuals helped usher in a full resurgence of R&B girl groups throughout the decade. Acts like SWV, TLC, Xscape, Jade, Brownstone, and 702 followed in the lane En Vogue carved out. Each of the subsequent groups brought their own sound, but built on the blueprint the group established when they broke through with “Hold On” in 1990. Nearly four decades later, that influence is still visible across the genre of contemporary R&B.
The trio continues to maintain a national profile, with recent appearances at the NBA All-Star Game and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction broadcast.
PrideFest St. Louis will also feature headlining performances from Aly & AJ and Icona Pop. Aly & AJ first gained national attention in the mid-2000s through their work with Disney Channel and a series of platinum-selling singles. In recent years, they have shifted toward an independent, genre-blending sound that has earned recognition from major music outlets and supported a series of sold-out tours.
Icona Pop, the Swedish duo behind the global hit “I Love It,” has toured internationally and collaborated with artists including Miley Cyrus, One Direction, and The Chainsmokers. Their music has appeared across television, film, and major live broadcasts.
PrideFest St. Louis is one of the region’s largest annual events, drawing tens of thousands to the downtown area each summer. The festival is centered around Soldiers Memorial Park and the stretch of Tucker Boulevard between Market and Olive streets. Over the years, PrideFest has featured a range of national musical acts across pop, dance, and R&B genres as part of its entertainment lineup.
Weekend passes for PrideFest 2026 are available at pridestl.org.
The 4 original members of En Vogue were Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones. Anything less than those beautiful and talented ladies gets a no from me.