Helena Moreno Inauguration
On January 12th, 2026, Helena Moreno was sworn in as the first Latina mayor in New Orleans’ history, and her inauguration weekend was worthy and reflective of the historic achievement: spanning three days, four venues, bringing hundreds of local artists, community organizers, food vendors, and engaging thousands of residents.
Helena contacted us after our successful production of her 2025 election night watch party. We immediately knew that her achievement had to be truly representative of her campaign. We started by asking the question: “How do you mark a historic inauguration without defaulting to the closed-door cocktail parties and donor dinners of the past?” One that celebrates the vibrant and diverse city it is taking place in and engages people who make it great. A standout politician deserved an inauguration that stands out among the rest.
MESSAGE ALIGNED WITH EXECUTION
Our team developed the unifying creative theme: All In For New Orleans, echoing Helena’s campaign and setting the defining tone for her upcoming tenure. Then, we designed the weekend that did the same; one that put money back into the community, created jobs for local artists and vendors, and invited the entire city to celebrate alongside her. The theme shaped every touchpoint of the weekend: logos, graphics, the events, and even an original theme song — “All In” performed by Dawn Richard and the Soul Rebels — which we commissioned and produced especially for the inauguration
EXPERIENCE TO REMEMBER
We produced the experience across four venues: the Saenger Theater, St. Louis Cathedral, Lafayette Square, and Gallier Hall. The weekend started with a community day of events featuring about 700 volunteers, continued with a big culture festival at Lafayette Square, and concluded with the inauguration ceremony featuring artist performances and a surprise cameo video by Lenny Kravitz.
EXCEEDING THE CHALLENGE
In just two months, we redefined what political inaugurations could look like, handling everything from brand development and sponsorship management to guest list, invitation management, and all other steps in the production and execution process. We delivered end-to-end event production and managed every dimension of a multi-day, multi-venue public celebration simultaneously and under a compressed timeline, bringing together 442 artists, 16 community organizations, 7 food trucks, 2 local caterers, 600 free refreshments, and the true essence of NOLA and its new mayor.
The weekend generated widespread civic engagement and media coverage, with politicians all over the country rethinking their approach to inaugural ceremonies, helping Mayor Moreno begin her term with a clear, resonant message heard by every constituent: this administration belongs to all of New Orleans.
Photography by Channel 91 Photography for Solomon Group
