Come Alive gospel concert set for Emancipation Day return at King’s House

Come Alive, the gospel concert that drew a capacity crowd for its first staging last year with Grammy-winning singer CeCe Winans, is coming back on August 1, Emancipation Day, at King’s House East Lawn.

The 2026 bill includes Grammy-winning, multi-platinum gospel artiste Michael W Smith, along with Papa San, Petra Kaye, Johnmark Wiggan, a cappella group HUMBLE and Jermaine Edwards.

Erin Hosin, chairman of Come Alive Collective, spoke with the Jamaica Observer soon after the 2026 launch at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston. He said organisers had not originally intended to mount the event again, but felt led to do so.

“We had no plans to do a second staging, but then God spoke to our hearts and said he wanted us to call this nation to worship,” Hosin said.

Explaining how Smith became the headline act, Hosin said Smith and CeCe Winans had been appearing at a Christmas concert in Washington, DC, when Winans mentioned that she had visited Jamaica. A member of the Come Alive team, who was also at the concert, heard Smith say he would like to come to the island.

Hosin said Smith’s long record in worship music and his multiple Grammy wins made him a natural choice for the event.

The first Come Alive concert sold out and brought in more than 15,000 people. Net proceeds from that staging went to a number of charities, among them Bustamante Hospital for Children.

For the 2026 event, Bustamante Hospital for Children will again benefit, together with other organisations including Open Door Jamaica Foundation and the Clifton Boys’ Home.

Hosin said last year’s crowd response and the atmosphere of worship were encouraging, but the organisers also took note of areas to improve.

“We think our vendors believe now. They didn’t bring a lot of food last year, so this time around we’ll have more food vendors, including in the VIP and VVIP areas. We’ll be doing a lot of fun things as well including a few surprises,” he said.

Dr Leighton Maddan, who heads the Ophthalmology Department at Bustamante Hospital for Children, said the hospital has already seen meaningful results from the support generated by the 2025 concert.

“Through last year’s event we have benefitted in the eye department. The power of worship that was displayed last year resulted in us receiving a cataract surgery machine which is valued at over $17 million. Since then we have been able to revolutionise vision care for our children at the hospital,” Maddan told the Observer.

Jermaine Edwards said he had been invited to perform at the first staging but could not participate because of earlier commitments. This year, he made room in his calendar.

“I was approached last year, but I had prior commitments. So when they reached out this year it was a no-brainer, because it is an event that I wanted to be a part of. I saw the quality of the event from the first staging, and it was great. I believe that the message of the Lord is relevant at a time like this, and I just hope that the ambassadors bringing the message of the Lord will remain relevant,” Edwards said.

Johnmark Wiggan also reflected positively on the 2025 concert, calling it a major platform with a broad audience.

“It was an amazing concert last year. It was my first time being on a platform that served such a diverse and big audience, and it was tremendous. It was very well received; God was glorified and the mission was accomplished,” Wiggan said.

Chevaughn Walker of HUMBLE said what stayed with him most from last year was the sight of patrons deeply engaged in worship. He said the group plans to bring even more energy to this year’s staging.

“HUMBLE is all about Jamaican flavour and bringing just that a capella vibe mixed with the Jamaican-ness, and it’s Emancipation Day, so you know we’re coming with something exciting. We’re definitely gonna step it up this year,” Walker said.

Before the headline performances, the pre-show will feature Audience of One and contestants from the Jamaica Gospel Star competition.

Michael W Smith is widely known outside gospel circles for Place in This World, which reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991. He also recorded I Will Be Here For You, which climbed to number 27 on the Hot 100 and topped Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart.

In the United States, nine of Smith’s albums have earned gold certification and three have gone multiplatinum. He has also reached number one on Billboard’s Christian chart 13 times.