Bayou Classic Names 2026 Cultural Ambassadors to Celebrate Louisiana’s Heritage
By: Dez B.
The Bayou Classic is bringing Louisiana’s art, cuisine and cultural traditions into the spotlight ahead of its 53rd annual celebration, naming three prominent creatives as its 2026 Cultural Ambassadors.
Photo: Bayou Classic
Internationally recognized artist Don Cincone, visual artist Daryl Triplett and award-winning chef Niema DiGrazia will represent the event, helping connect communities across Louisiana through art, food and the enduring traditions surrounding the annual football rivalry between Grambling State University and Southern University.
Announced Oct. 13 by the Bayou Classic’s management team, the initiative highlights the event’s cultural significance beyond the football field, celebrating the artists, chefs and community leaders who contribute to Louisiana’s identity.
“For more than five decades, the Bayou Classic has been about much more than football,” said Dottie Belletto, president and CEO of the New Orleans Convention Company Inc., which manages the event. “It is a celebration of our culture, our communities and the incredible talent that makes Louisiana special.”
Meet the Bayou Classic’s 2026 Cultural Ambassadors
The three ambassadors bring different creative backgrounds and hometown connections to the initiative, with plans to promote Bayou Classic traditions through community engagement, local events and social media.
Don Cincone: International Artist Representing West Monroe
With an artistic career spanning more than eight decades, Don Cincone has built an international reputation for work exploring faith, history, culture and the human experience.
Raised in Alto, Louisiana, Cincone developed an artistic perspective rooted in the stories and values of his community. His work has appeared in museums and galleries throughout Louisiana and beyond, including the Masur Museum of Art, the Southern University Museum of Art and the African American Museum of Dallas.
His honors include the Italian Medal of Merit for Culture and Art and the NAACP Humanitarian Award. In 2026, his career was celebrated through a retrospective exhibition at the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens in Monroe.
Cincone also has a previous connection to the Bayou Classic, having participated in a kickoff reception and art exhibition in 2017.
As a Cultural Ambassador, he will draw on his artistic platform and connections throughout Northeast Louisiana to highlight the event’s history, heritage and community impact.
Daryl Triplett: Monroe Artist Celebrating Culture Through Creativity
Monroe-based visual artist Daryl Triplett joins the initiative with a creative approach shaped by music, cultural heritage and personal experiences.
His multidimensional artwork explores the relationships between creativity, identity and community, drawing inspiration from Louisiana’s cultural traditions and the broader African American experience.
Triplett has participated in regional exhibitions and cultural programs, including collaborative presentations with Cincone. His work emphasizes visual storytelling and the ability of art to create meaningful connections among diverse audiences.
Through his ambassadorship, Triplett will use his artistic voice and community relationships to promote the Bayou Classic throughout Northeast Louisiana.
Chef Niema DiGrazia: Bringing West African and Caribbean Flavors to the Bayou Classic
Food will play a central role in the cultural ambassador initiative through award-winning chef, restaurateur and Food Network champion Niema DiGrazia, who will serve as the event’s Culinary Ambassador.
Born in Sierra Leone and based in Shreveport, DiGrazia is the founder of Niema’s West African & Caribbean Cuisine. Her culinary approach combines the bold flavors of West Africa, the Caribbean and the American South.
DiGrazia gained national recognition after winning Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay and appeared on the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture Food & Wine Stage in New Orleans.
Her ambassadorship begins with a Bayou Classic Alumni Brunch and Trophy Roadshow scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 18, at her new flagship restaurant in downtown Shreveport. The gathering is part of the restaurant’s grand opening celebration, running Oct. 16-18.
The event will welcome Grambling State and Southern University alumni, Bayou Classic supporters and members of the public for a celebration of food, culture and historically Black college and university traditions.
“Being named Culinary Ambassador for the 2026 Bayou Classic is an incredible honor,” DiGrazia said. “Bayou Classic represents generations of culture, excellence, tradition and community.”
She added that bringing the celebration to Shreveport during her restaurant’s opening makes the opportunity especially meaningful.
Bayou Classic Expands Its Reach Across Louisiana
Throughout the 2026 Bayou Classic season, the ambassadors will serve as local representatives, promoting activities in their hometowns, engaging community networks and sharing content across their social media platforms.
The initiative reinforces the Bayou Classic’s role as more than an annual football game. The celebration brings together alumni, students, families and supporters while highlighting Louisiana’s contributions to art, cuisine, music, education and African American culture.
Belletto said the ambassadors reflect the many ways the event connects people across generations and communities, whether through artwork, creative expression or food.
By bringing together three distinct creative voices, the Bayou Classic aims to extend its reach across Louisiana while celebrating the traditions that have sustained the Grambling State-Southern University rivalry for more than five decades.
As the 53rd annual celebration approaches, the Cultural Ambassador program offers another way to recognize the people and cultural experiences that make the Bayou Classic a defining event in Louisiana’s HBCU community.
Source: Bayou Classic.
