Reggae Therapy fans and Jamaican artistes push for more Caribbean festivals

FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique — As the 2026 Reggae Therapy festival closed, fans and Jamaican performers joined organisers in calling for more reggae festivals across the Caribbean, citing both the economic gains and the chance to celebrate a sound rooted in the region’s culture.

Day two of the Martinique event drew roughly 10,000 people, organisers said, up from about 7,000 to 8,000 a night last year. Many patrons said they would travel and spend to hear reggae live, including in Jamaica.

One festival-goer named Jamaica as a destination they hope to visit, saying they want to experience the island’s culture firsthand. Another credited their parents for introducing them to reggae, recalling that their first concert as a child was a family outing and that the music still lifts their mood. A third singled out Jamaican singer Lila Iké, saying they first saw her in Martinique about two years ago and found the performance outstanding. Asked whether they had attended a similar event in Jamaica during Reggae Month, that fan said they had not, but wanted to.

Other patrons spoke of reggae’s lasting hold. One said they grew up with the music and still value its message and vibe, naming Bob Marley alongside Sizzla and Capleton and calling conscious reggae important for the spirit.

Two Jamaican headliners backed the push for more festivals at home, and on a steadier schedule. One pointed to Reggae Sunsplash in earlier decades as a model — a full week when crowds turned out night after night rather than dipping in for a single show — and argued that Jamaica, as reggae’s birthplace, should do more to spotlight the music and draw visitors. The artiste contrasted that cohesion with what they described as a more fragmented scene today.

Asked whether Reggae Therapy could land in Jamaica, a festival representative said the brand will travel next, with Europe — possibly France — among the early options because the production team is based in Martinique and France. Jamaica remains a goal if organisers can mount an original programme that fits the market, they added.

Attendance growth, the representative said, points to rising demand for events of this kind, and the team is pleased with how the festival has expanded.