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Rodney "Bounty Killer" Price received the Key to the City of Kingston on 29 July 2026 at a ceremony at Seaview Gardens Primary School, in recognition of his impact on the music and his standing as a cultural ambassador. Wenchman Road, where he spent much of his youth, was renamed Rodney Price Drive following a petition from Seaview Gardens residents and approval by the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation.

A Supreme Court judge has put the ska icon's defamation claim against his daughter on an accelerated timetable, with a pre-trial hearing set for 11 December. The claim, filed in June 2024, concerns allegations Queen Ifrica made publicly in 2023; they remain untested in court and are denied.

Jamaica's People's National Party issued a statement mourning the passing of reggae icon Fantan Mojah, recognizing his contribution to conscious reggae and Jamaican culture.

Organisers detailed a comprehensive traffic and patron-flow plan for the one-night 'A Taste of Reggae Sumfest' at Plantation Cove, St. Ann on July 18, headlined by Vybz Kartel and Mavado.

Reggae Sumfest announced it will pay tribute to the late reggae artiste Fantan Mojah during A Taste of Reggae Sumfest on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Plantation Cove, St Ann.

Roots reggae singer Fantan Mojah (Owen Moncrieffe) reportedly died at 49 after heart-related complications at the University Hospital of the West Indies, weeks before his 50th birthday. Known for 2000s hits like 'Hungry' and the album 'Hail the King.'

Jamaican conscious reggae artiste Fantan Mojah (Owen Moncrieffe) died at the University Hospital of the West Indies on July 14, 2026, at age 49 after heart-related complications, weeks before his 50th birthday.

Veteran dancehall dancer Shelly Belly reflected on the central role dancers play in dancehall culture and their contribution to the genre's global spread.

The Royalty Network Inc partnered with Back 2 Da Future Music Limited's annual recognition ceremony, returning to Jamaica on September 15, 2026 under the new name Excellence in Music Ceremony 2026 to honour contributors to reggae, dancehall and global music.

Thirty-four years after its release, Inner Circle's reggae hit 'Sweat (A La La La La Long)' earned platinum certification in the UK, with the British Phonographic Industry issuing the certification on July 10, 2026 for over 600,000 units.

Shenseea's collaboration with Daddy Yankee, 'Echo (FIFA World Cup 2026),' reached No. 1 on Billboard's Latin Airplay chart, making her the first female Jamaican artiste to top that chart.

Fans and Gaza supporters expressed anticipation for the historic one-stage reunion of Vybz Kartel and Mavado at A Taste of Reggae Sumfest on July 18, 2026, at Plantation Cove, St Ann.

Broadcaster Winston Dias was presented with a citation recognising his contribution to reggae music in South Florida.

Reggae Vibes Music re-released 'Jamaica Holiday,' an uplifting reggae single by Turbulence, positioning the song as a modern soundtrack celebrating Jamaica.

Reggae Land 2026 neared sell-out with final-release Friday tickets running low, headlined by Burna Boy, Masicka, Christopher Martin and Julian Marley.

Germany's SummerJam festival unveiled its full 2026 timetable featuring a strong Jamaican contingent including Original Koffee, Lila Iké, Christopher Martin and Dexta Daps.

DownSound Entertainment's CEO said organisers are planning to move 30,000-plus patrons to and from Plantation Cove without chaos for the July 18 one-night staging of Reggae Sumfest.

Reggae Sumfest returns as a one-night 'A Taste of Sumfest' at Plantation Cove on July 18, with Vybz Kartel and Mavado sharing a stage for the first time since 2008, joined by Jamal, Ayetian, Queen Ifrica, Harry Toddler, Shawn Storm, Marcy Chin and Young Wild Apache.

Reggae Sumfest promoters counted down to the 2026 staging, reimagined as 'A Taste of Reggae Sumfest' at Plantation Cove in Priory, St Ann, headlined by the reunion of Vybz Kartel and Mavado.

With 'God & Time' marking his 12th entry on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, Vybz Kartel now ranks third for the most career entries on the chart, his tenth appearance inside the top 10.

Vybz Kartel's studio album 'God & Time,' released June 5 via TJ Records/Vybz Kartel Muzik, debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, the highest dancehall debut of 2026. It features Wizkid, Spice, Farruko, Shenseea, Skillibeng and Mavado.

Reggae Sumfest secured Magnum Tonic Wine as title sponsor for its 2026 staging, marking a new backing for the festival marketed as the Caribbean's premier music event.

Tower Band released a 16-track mixtape titled 'Dancehall Future,' launching the ZJ West-mixed project at Janga's Soundbar and Grill in New Kingston.

Jamaican singer Chris Martin is preparing to release new music, according to the Jamaica Observer's entertainment coverage.

TCN Now covers the launch of the Jamaica Music Atlas, arguing that Jamaica's musical history has too often been written by the loudest institution or by someone thousands of miles away, while the selectors and engineers who lived it were never asked to preserve theirs. In the writer's words: "Rather than treating ordinary people as spectators to history, the Jamaican Music Atlas recognizes them as its authors."

'Echo (FIFA World Cup 2026),' the collaboration between Shenseea and Daddy Yankee, reached No. 1 on Billboard's Latin Airplay chart.

Shenseea teamed with K-pop star JIHYO of TWICE for the new single and music video 'Distant Lover,' released July 12, 2026.

'Echo (FIFA World Cup 2026)' jumped from No. 6 to No. 1 on Billboard's Latin Airplay chart dated July 11, giving Daddy Yankee his 31st career leader and Shenseea a historic first.

Mr Eazi and producer Dre Skull launch a dancehall-driven joint mixtape called 'Yard & Yanga,' opening the rollout with the Vybz Kartel-featuring single 'Lambo.'

A US federal judge denied summary judgment motions in Steely & Clevie's landmark 'Fish Market' riddim case, ruling that a jury must decide whether the Jamaican drum pattern is original enough to support claims that thousands of reggaeton songs copied it.

Masicka announced his new album 'Forever Reign', due August 14, ahead of his first time headlining Brooklyn's Barclays Center for Reggae Fest on August 15. His 'Her Name Is Love' EP also earned a 2026 Caribbean Music Awards nomination.

Masicka is set to make his debut headlining performance at Brooklyn's Barclays Center during Reggae Fest on August 15, 2026, a milestone in his international rise.

Capleton released 'Heights Of Fire,' his first full-length album in roughly 15 years, a 16-track set produced by Evidence Music with collaborators including Damian Marley, Stephen Marley and L'Entourloop.

DancehallMag reported that Capleton's planned Canadian comeback show was postponed as organizers moved SoulFoodFestival416 to a larger venue. The delay pushed back his first Canada appearance in over a decade.

Capleton released 'Heights of Fire' on June 26, 2026, described as his first album in 16 years, featuring 16 tracks and collaborators including Damian Marley and Stephen Marley, produced by Evidence Music.

Dream Weekend's 17th staging will run July 30 through August 3, 2026 in Montego Bay, featuring various dancehall artists at the major Jamaican festival event.

DancehallMag reports on Morgan Heritage's Ghana-Jamaica Homecoming Festival, a cross-continental staging linking the two countries through reggae music and heritage.

Capleton released his 16-track album 'Heights of Fire' on June 26, his first full album in 15 years, produced by Evidence Music. The project features Damian Marley, Stephen Marley, Eesah and others.

Dancehall icon Vybz Kartel released his 14-track album 'God & Time' on June 5, 2026, described as his most personal project since regaining his freedom, featuring guests including Farruko, Skillibeng and Shenseea.

Best Reggae Album Grammy winner Keznamdi announced a five-date U.S. Blxxd & Fyah tour running Oct. 4-15, from San Francisco's Café du Nord to Brooklyn Bowl, and teased a new album.

US reggae-rock band The Elovaters released 'Shark Belly Motel,' which debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart dated May 30, 2026, the highest debut by a newly released reggae album that year.

Buju Banton announced his new album 'Too Too Bad', set for release July 17, with lead single 'Butterflies' released in April, produced by Supa Dups for Black Chiney Music. The album arrives during his Roots And Rhymes Summer Tour with Stephen Marley.

Popcaan landed his first-ever Billboard Hot 100 entry via his Drake collaboration 'Amazing Shape', debuting at No. 76 on the chart dated May 30, 2026. It marked a significant chart milestone for the dancehall star.

At the 43rd International Reggae & World Music Awards, held May 17 in Lauderhill, Florida, Shatta Wale won Best African Dancehall Entertainer and Concert of the Year, becoming the most-awarded African artist in IRAWMA history. Spice took Best Dancehall Stagecraft Entertainer and the Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award.

DancehallMag reported Popcaan earned his first credited feature on a Drake album with 'Amazing Shape', appearing as track six on the project. The collaboration highlighted broader Caribbean links across the album.

Grammy-winning Jamaican icon Shaggy released his 13-track album 'Lottery' on May 15 via VP Records and his Ranch Entertainment. Largely self-produced, it features Sting, Robin Thicke, Akon, Beres Hammond, Dexta Daps and more, led by the single 'Looking Lovely.'

Grammy-winning icon Shaggy released his 13-track album 'Lottery' via VP Records and Ranch Entertainment, featuring Sting, Robin Thicke, Akon, Beres Hammond and Dexta Daps, led by the single 'Looking Lovely.'

DancehallMag reported that Capleton was set to return to a Canadian stage for the first time in 16 years as part of SoulFoodFestival416. The performance marked a notable milestone in the veteran's touring schedule.