Reggae Sumfest 2026: Vybz Kartel and Mavado Finally Share a Stage

For most of the 2000s and into the 2010s, dancehall fans picked a side. Gaza or Gully. Vybz Kartel or Mavado. It was the rivalry that shaped the genre for a decade, and it never got resolved on a stage, until now.

On July 18, 2026, at Plantation Cove in St Ann, both artists headline the same show for the first time. The event is billed as "A Taste of Reggae Sumfest: Gaza & Gully," and it is not the usual multi-day Sumfest format. This year it is a single main night, built up to by a week of parties, street dances, and sound clashes running from July 12.

Why the format changed

Reggae Sumfest usually takes place in Montego Bay, but 2026's staging moved to St Ann following damage from Hurricane Melissa in parts of the city, according to reporting from the Jamaica Observer and Caribbean National Weekly. Rather than cancel or delay, organisers rebuilt the event around one condensed, high-stakes night.

That condensed format ended up suiting the headline pairing. A one-night, one-stage Kartel-and-Mavado booking carries more weight than either artist getting their own separate set across a longer week.

What it means for dancehall

Gully vs Gaza was never just a beef between two artists. It split neighbourhoods, radio stations, and fan bases, and it produced some of the most quoted dancehall lyrics of the era. Seeing both names on the same bill, in the same set of hours, is the kind of booking dancehall fans have talked about for years without expecting it to happen.

The pairing is not staying in Jamaica either. A four-day festival in Malta this September, running September 10 to 13, closes with back-to-back Gaza vs Gully shows featuring both artists headlining.

Getting there

Tickets are available across General Admission, VIP, and premium tiers, with single-night and full-access options depending on how much of the build-up week you want to catch.

Where were you when Gaza vs Gully was at its peak, and did you have a side?

Sources

Jamaica Observer (2026) Vybz Kartel, Mavado to share Reggae Sumfest stage. Available at: https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2026/03/06/vybz-kartel-mavado-share-reggae-sumfest-stage/ (Accessed: 10 July 2026).

Caribbean National Weekly (2026) Vybz Kartel and Mavado to share Reggae Sumfest stage in historic one-night staging. Available at: https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/posts/vybz-kartel-and-mavado-to-share-reggae-sumfest-stage-in-historic-one-night-staging (Accessed: 10 July 2026).

Reggae Sumfest (2026) Official event information. Available at: https://reggaesumfest.com/ (Accessed: 10 July 2026).