2026 Reggae Month Activities Launched

Activities for Reggae Month were officially launched at J. Wray and Nephew Limited head office in New Kingston, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, on Wednesday (January 21).

This year is the 17th anniversary of the official declaration of February as Reggae Month by the Governor General.

More than 60 events have been registered with the Reggae Month Secretariat this year.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange, announced that the Month will officially commence on Sunday, February 1, with a church service at the Fellowship Tabernacle at 2 Fairfield Avenue in Kingston.

“On February 1, we also pay tribute to the late Crown Prince of Reggae, Dennis Emmanuel Brown, at Heroes Park,” she added.

The annual Bob Marley Tribute Concert will be held at Emancipation Park on February 6, with a special appearance from Stephen Marley.

“He will be the featured Marley at the celebration but the concert will [also] bring together overseas acts… . They will be standing alongside our local talent in a powerful reminder that reggae is global but its soul remains Jamaican,” Minister Grange said.

Dancehall Week will be a key feature of Reggae Month with events running from February 22 to March 1.

The younger generation of reggae musicians will be spotlighted at Young Reggae Ambassadors in Negril, Westmoreland, on February 24.

Minister Grange said that as more senior pioneers of Jamaican music pass on, “it is important that we promote and highlight the next generation”.

“We start with this series, Children of the Icon, as well as Young Reggae Ambassadors; so, those who have paved the way, their children, moving in the same direction, we are helping to promote them and other young artistes. We want to ensure that when we leave, we leave the music in good hands,” she continued.

The Minister also announced reggae artiste, Etana, as the first official Reggae Month Ambassador.

Among the other activities to take place in Western Jamaica are the Waves One Love Jerk Fest and the MoBay Reggae Night in St. James.

Minister Grange said Reggae Month this year is an opportunity for Jamaica to celebrate the many milestones the country, its music and culture have made.

“This year, we celebrate 80 years since our music has been inscribed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). We celebrate 10 years since Kingston was designated by UNESCO a creative city, and we celebrate 17 years since the Governor General proclaimed Reggae Month; so, we have a lot to celebrate. Reggae is Jamaica’s heartbeat and an important force in global culture,” she said.

The Minister noted that the Month’s celebration also comes “at a time when half our country is rebuilding from the devastating hurricane and when we see so much trouble in the world”.

“In all of this, it falls to our composers, our songwriters, singers, players of instruments, and also the soundman, to use their beautiful and powerful reggae music to bring us all together. Our reggae music is therapy; we turn to this music in the good and in the bad times. The rhythm, our rhythm, and the lyrics provide relief and inspiration,” Ms. Grange said.

The full schedule of activities for Reggae Month is available on the Reggae Jamaica App, which is free for download from the App Store as well as the Google Playstore.