Reggae Sumfest CEO Joe Bogdanovic says that Vybz Kartel and Mavado, the two leaders of the “Gaza” and “Gully” camps, will be headlining a special one-night presentation of Reggae Sumfest 2026.
Bogdanovic told Caribbean Life on Monday, March 16, that Reggae Sumfest 2026, billed “A Taste of Reggae Sumfest” on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Plantation Cove in St. Ann, Jamaica, is “not just a concert; it’s a celebration of a defining era in Dancehall and a moment for fans to experience two legendary artistes in the same space once again.
“When I first visited Jamaica in the 1990s, I was struck by how powerful Dancehall was,” he said. “Whether you were in Kingston, Montego Bay, or driving through the countryside, you would hear these songs echoing everywhere – on the radio, from passing cars, from speakers in the communities. It was mesmerizing.
“Bringing Vybz Kartel and Mavado together on one stage (at Reggae Sumfest) is about capturing that magic again,” Bogdanovic added. “It is the revival of one of dancehall’s biggest and most legendary rivalries in the history of the genre.
“For years, Kartel and Mavado dominated the genre with competing anthems and fiercely loyal fan bases,” he continued. “Their lyrical exchanges and larger-than-life personalities helped transform Dancehall into a global cultural force.
“Today, the possibility of witnessing both artists on the same stage has sparked a wave of excitement globally,” Bogdanovic said.
He, however, cautioned fans about what they should expect at the reunion.
“We want to be very clear that we are not positioning this event as a rivalry or a clash,” Bogdanovic said. “What fans will witness is something much more meaningful, a reunion.
“We want to be very clear that we are not positioning this event as a rivalry or a clash,” Bogdanovic said. “What fans will witness is something much more meaningful, a reunion.
“Both Kartel and Mavado have matured and evolved over the years,” he added. “They are icons who helped shape one of the most exciting periods in Dancehall history, and what people truly want now is to celebrate the music that came from that era.”
Bogdanovic said that, from the moment the announcement was made, “we began seeing interest not just from Jamaica but from across the Caribbean, North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.”
Bogdanovic said that, from the moment the announcement was made, “we began seeing interest not just from Jamaica but from across the Caribbean, North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.”
Jamaican-born, New York-based entertainment publicist Anthony “ER Guru” Turner told Caribbean Life that Diaspora music lovers are “salivating and ready for the historic ‘Gaza, Gully’ reunion with Kartel and Mavado.”
Turner, who has been attending Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay since 1994 said: “When the curtain rises and the two Dancehall titans romp on stage at Reggae Sumfest 2026, Dancehall fans at Plantation Cove will pack the venue and hundreds of thousands of others from around the world will hope they get the opportunity to watch if the organizers decide to stream the action live.”
Gaza fan Jamiel Baker, a Jamaican living in the Bronx, also told Caribbean Life, “Dancehall history is loading.
“This is the biggest thing to happen to reggae and dancehall in years,” he said. “Everyone will be in Jamaica for this.”
Brooklyn resident Kim Williams said, “I was there for Freedom Street. I will be back for the Vybz Kartel, Mavado reunion.”
“This is the biggest thing to happen to reggae and dancehall in years,” he said. “Everyone will be in Jamaica for this.”
Brooklyn resident Kim Williams said, “I was there for Freedom Street. I will be back for the Vybz Kartel, Mavado reunion.”
