Vybz Kartel and Mavado headline Taste of Sumfest 2026, revive Gully-Gaza rivalry

Reggae Sumfest has returned for 2026 in a scaled-back Taste of Sumfest format following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa, with dancehall stars Vybz Kartel and Mavado billed as headliners in a reunion that evoked the fierce Gully versus Gaza rivalry of the early 2000s.

The pairing put two of the era’s defining voices on the same stage, offering audiences a live reminder of the period when the Gaza and Gully camps dominated Jamaican dancehall culture and divided fan loyalties across the island.

In remarks captured around the show, one performer said organisers allotted only five minutes of stage time, prompting a push to make a strong impression and display range. The artist said a partner was brought onstage to heighten the set and that the short slot still allowed room to show different sides of their craft.

Another voice reflected on the joy of returning to the microphone, citing the energy of fans singing along and the lift of performing again for a large crowd. The same stretch of commentary framed the night as a serious outing and pointed ahead to further business after the appearance.

A further assessment of the production compared the new setting with Sumfest’s familiar Montego Bay footprint, describing a first-time move to a much larger site — roughly three times the scale of the previous MoBay layout — with a heavily corporate and business-oriented turnout. The speaker judged the grounds at about 85 per cent full, especially in the upper sections, and called the overall bill among the biggest Sumfest presentations yet, praising the sight of two veteran acts working the stage together as a rare and memorable moment.

For many in attendance, the night was less about settling old scores than about marking how far the culture has come — two former rivals sharing a festival that itself is rebuilding after national hardship.