Masicka to Headline Reggae Fest 2026
Categoria: Musica
NYC's biggest dancehall celebration is returning to Barclays Center this summer.
Por Billboard | 15/06/2026
New York City’s biggest dancehall celebration is back! Related 2026 Caribbean Music Awards Nominees: Lady Lava, Machel Montano, Ayetian & More Masicka Announces Sensual New ‘Her Name Is Love’ EP: ‘I Wanted to Create Something That Speaks Directly to the Ladies’ How New York’s UBS Arena Is Helping to Raise the Commercial Ceiling for Caribbean-Headlined Shows On Monday (June 15), Billboard confirms that Reggae Fest will return to Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Aug. 15. Jamaican dancehall sensation Masicka will headline. Presale begins Wednesday, June 17 at 10:00 a.m. ET, with the general on-sale launching Thursday, June 18 at 10:00 a.m. ET. “It’s his time,” Reggae Fest founder & CEO CJ Milan tells Billboard . “Masicka is in his prime right now; ‘Slip & Slide’ [on Di Genius’ ‘Hill & Gully’ riddim] is big; he’s definitely one of the hottest [artists right now]. And he’s also just an amazing person. I’ve worked with him before, and I just think he’s ready.” Masicka is certainly having a moment. Last month (May 8), Grammy-nominated reggae hitmaker Protoje gushed about the star’s unique position in contemporary dancehall, telling Billboard , “Every time Masicka does a feature, he lifts the song and stays on topic…. He’s flawless on every feature.” Armed with an ever-growing catalog of hits, including “Whites,” “Mute,” “Tyrant,” “Rich Sex” and his Caribbean Music Award-winning “Hit & Run” collaboration with Shenseea and Di Genius, for many, Masicka is the definitive male contemporary dancehall artist. His major label debut album, 2023’s Generation of Kings, reached No. 2 on Reggae Albums, and last year’s Her Name Is Love EP recently picked up a dancehall album of the year nomination at the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards. Last year’s Reggae Fest (Aug. 30, 2025) featured a star-studded lineup of Caribbean talent including Shenseea, Capleton, Elephant Man, Alkaline, Mr. Vegas, T.O.K., Tony Matterhorn and Tantro Metro & Devonte. Barclays Center hosted seven Caribbean-headlined concerts in 2025, with those shows generating 20% of the arena’s total gross revenue and drawing over 80,000 fans. Milan’s Reggae Fest has been instrumental in the growth of Caribbean music at Barclays, hosting six events between 2024 and 2026 alone. In 2026, a single Alkaline’s New Rules show, powered by Reggae Fest, accounted for approximately 8% of all concert attendance at the venue year-to-date. “Barclays is, to me, the Mecca of dancehall because it’s right there in Brooklyn,” says Milan. “Who wouldn’t always want to have their events there? Even the security is Caribbean! It’s just the whole vibe of the neighborhood, and I love it. Brooklyn is dancehall to me. When Bounty [Killer] came, he was excited because it was in Brooklyn. Being able to jump on a train, get in an Uber or even walk to see your favorite dancehall artist is unmatched.” Wi