One of the Caribbean’s most iconic hospitality brands is preparing to transport the vibrant sights, sounds and flavors of Jamaica to the heart of Louisiana when the 2026 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (commonly known as Jazz Fest) kicks off next spring. Sandals Resorts, in official partnership with the Jamaica Tourist Board, has signed on as the headline sponsor of the Sandals Resorts Jamaica Cultural Exchange Pavilion, a beloved 30-year staple of the annual two-weekend music celebration that draws crowds from across the globe to the Big Easy.
The 2026 iteration of the pavilion, which will run across Jazz Fest’s two scheduled weekends – April 23-26 and April 30-May 3, 2026 – is crafted to highlight Jamaica’s cross-generational cultural impact through three core pillars: world-famous music, authentic island cuisine, and one-of-a-kind handmade craft. Headlining the pavilion’s stellar musical lineup are reggae and dancehall superstars Ziggy Marley, Stephen Marley and Sean Paul, who will anchor a lineup of standout talent that also includes Lutan Fyah, Protoje, Jesse Royal, Koffee, Sevana and Grammy-nominated vocalist Lila Iké. The partnership brings two music-rich cultures together: New Orleans, world-famous as the birthplace of jazz and home to the iconic annual Mardi Gras celebration, and Jamaica, the global home of reggae and a decades-long source of transformative musical influence.
Beyond the stage, festival attendees will get to experience the full depth of Jamaican culinary tradition. Guests will be able to sample a spread of authentic island dishes, ranging from classic slow-braised oxtail served with traditional rice and peas and tangy escoveitched fish to jerk-spiced mushrooms that cater to plant-based diners. Each bite can be paired with the event’s signature cocktail, the One Love Rum Punch crafted from Appleton Rum, served in a custom branded Sandals Resorts keepsake cup.
The pavilion will also shine a spotlight on Jamaican craftsmanship, with local artisans showcasing handmade wares created from locally sourced Jamaican materials. The Sandals Foundation, Sandals Resorts’ non-profit philanthropic division, will feature two standout artisans across both weekends of the festival: Sheldon Daily, a specialist in handwoven straw goods, and Dana Bauch, a ceramic artist whose work blends contemporary design with classic island inspiration. Their appearance at Jazz Fest is part of the Sandals Foundation’s ongoing artisan empowerment program, which supports local Jamaican creatives while helping international visitors build deeper connections to Caribbean cultural heritage.
Adjacent to the main pavilion, the Sandals Resorts and Jamaica Tent will serve as a tranquil island-inspired retreat for festival-goers looking to recharge between performances. Attendees can pose for immersive, one-of-a-kind photos that place them against backdrops of iconic Jamaican experiences, from the white sand shores of Sandals’ Jamaican resorts to the famous bamboo rafting floats that drift down the Martha Brae River. The tent also features immersive installations inspired by BLUM, Sandals’ signature café brand rooted in Jamaica’s Blue Mountains coffee region, plus a custom styled bar seating area modeled after the popular Dunn’s Rum Club at Sandals Dunn’s River.
Guests can also enjoy casual rounds of dominoes, access exclusive downloadable recipes for the event’s signature rum cocktails, and claim a coupon for free shipping on a bottle of Appleton Estate® Signature Jamaica Rum ordered through ReserveBar to enjoy long after the festival ends. To make the retreat even more guest-friendly, the tent offers complimentary Wi-Fi and mobile device charging stations, turning it into the perfect mid-festival reset spot.
To cap off the experience, the event will host a festival-exclusive daily sweepstakes that gives attendees the chance to win all-inclusive Jamaican getaway prizes. Daily winners can claim a four-day, three-night all-inclusive stay for two adults at one of three Sandals properties in Jamaica – Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean, or Sandals South Coast – all of which are scheduled to unveil fully renovated resort experiences this winter. Other prizes include a four-day, three-night all-inclusive family getaway for four at Beaches Negril.
“Jazz Fest is inherently built around the values of discovery, connection, and the unifying power of music,” explained Scott Peiffer, executive creative director at Unique Vacations, Inc., the global affiliate representative for Sandals Resorts. “Jamaica is the birthplace of Sandals Resorts, and this partnership lets us carry that one-of-a-kind Jamaican spirit beyond the island’s shores. We’re giving festival guests the chance to fully immerse themselves in the island’s rhythm, flavor, and vibrant energy instead of just learning about it from afar.”
Quint Davis, producer-director of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting: “The festival is grateful to Sandals Resorts and the Jamaica Tourist Board for helping us bring the full magic of Jamaica to Jazz Fest this year. Both of our cultures are famous for sharing music with the world that inspires incredible joy, and we hope this celebration of Jamaica encourages more people to experience the country for themselves.”
For additional information about the 2026 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Sandals Resorts Jamaica Cultural Exchange Pavilion, interested attendees can visit NoJazzFest.com/cultural-exchange-pavilion/ or Sandals.com.