St. Kitts Music Festival Opens 28th Staging After Record-Breaking 2025

The St. Kitts Music Festival will officially open on Thursday evening, ushering in its 28th staging with organizers promising another major celebration of Caribbean and international music.

The festival follows what organisers describe as its largest staging in 2025, with this year’s event expected to continue building on that momentum through a high-profile line-up and months of behind-the-scenes planning.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Ms. Tivanna Wharton, said while patrons experience the lights, crowd and music, a significant amount of work takes place long before performers step on stage.

“Most people experience the festival from the front — the lights, the crowd, the music filling the air,” Wharton said. “What the team, the Ministry and I get to see is everything that happens before the first note gets played.”

She said the festival is the result of months of conversations, coordination and problem-solving involving ministry officials, planners, negotiators, volunteers, logistics teams and policy personnel.

“Our job is to make the extraordinary look effortless,” Wharton said, praising those whose work helps bring the event to life.

Wharton added that the St. Kitts Music Festival reflects the country’s ambition and identity.

“The St. Kitts Music Festival is one of the clearest expressions of our story,” she said. “It says we are a small island, yes, but we are not small in vision. We can stand on stage alongside the best in the world and hold our own. We can welcome guests from any corner of the globe and make them genuinely feel like there is nowhere else in the world they would rather be.”

Thursday’s opening night will feature a strong Caribbean line-up, including Shelly and Signal Band of Dominica, Edwin Yearwood and Krosfyah, Rucas H.E., Grenada’s V’ghn, Nu Vybes Band International, Voice and Machel Montano.

Yearwood, who recalled performing at the inaugural edition of the festival, praised its longevity and continued growth.

“Look at St. Kitts now,” he declared. “Thank you for having me, thank you for having Krosfyah. It is an honour to be part of this big stage of very fantastic artists, and I am very glad to be here.”

Machel Montano also commended the festival’s consistency and quality, describing it as one of the Caribbean’s leading events.

“I must say congratulations to St. Kitts because this music festival has been a gem of the Caribbean,” Montano said.

The Trinidad and Tobago soca star said he is especially looking forward to his return, having not performed at the festival in 15 years.

“I have been here a couple times to the festival, but this time I’m very excited because I haven’t been here in over 15 years,” he said. “As soon as I stepped off the plane, the love, greetings and energy I got from every single person at that airport felt very genuine to me.”

Montano added that he is eager to connect with the crowd on opening night.

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder, so I am looking forward to the energy of tonight. I can’t wait,” he said.

Kollision Band is also expected to deliver a special tribute performance in honour of its late member, Jermaine “Chubby” Clarke, celebrating his life, energy and lasting contribution to the music community.

Clarke passed away tragically earlier this year.

Friday night’s programme will feature Kehlani, Aidonia, Masicka, Steel Pulse, Mavado, Valiant and Kranium.

The festival will conclude on Saturday night with performances by Fantasia, Boyz II Men, Mavado, Beres Hammond, Dean Fraser, Luciano and Tarrus Riley.

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