Months ahead of the highly anticipated “A Taste of Sumfest” one-night showcase set for July 18 at St Ann’s Plantation Cove, event director Cordel “Skatta” Burrell has opened up about the event’s core concept, its iconic inspiration, and the behind-the-scenes choices that led to this historic gathering of dancehall’s most legendary rivals. For the first time in 18 years, divided camps of dancehall fans — self-identified “Gully” supporters of Mavado and “Gaza” followers of Vybz Kartel, hailing from every corner of the globe — will get to watch the two superstars share a single stage, a moment that has been nearly 2 decades in the making.
Burrell emphasized that the event’s clash format draws directly from the legacy of Sting, one of Jamaica’s most famous stage show brands, and pushed back against early speculation that the new event is intended to compete with or overshadow the long-running Boxing Day Sting showcase. “Without Sting, we wouldn’t even be dreaming about this,” Burrell shared during an official launch event Thursday at New Kingston’s Janga’s Soundbar & Grill, in an interview with the Jamaica Observer. “Sting left an indelible mark on both of these artistes’ careers and on the hearts of their fans. Both men left that 2008 venue as winners in the eyes of their supporters, and to this day, fans still debate who came out on top. I was lucky enough to be there in person, and living that kind of energy once just isn’t enough. We needed a part two, and that’s exactly what we’re bringing now. What other brand is worthy of inspiring Reggae Sumfest than Sting?”
The 2008 Sting clash between Vybz Kartel and Mavado remains one of the most iconic moments in modern dancehall history. The high-stakes lyrical battle cut short unexpectedly before a winner could be named, with tension boiling over as both artistes exited the stage amid intense sparring. That inconclusive ending has kept the debate raging among fans for 18 years, building the hype for a long-awaited rematch that has finally come to fruition for 2026.
In addition to the headline clash, the one-night event will feature supporting performances from a stacked lineup of Jamaican talent, including Ayetian, Jamal, Queen Ifrica and Marcy Chin, among other rising and established acts.
This year’s Reggae Sumfest marks a major departure from its decades-long home in Montego Bay, St James. For 32 years, the festival drew fans from across the world to St James for a full week of pre-festival parties, culminating in the iconic Festival Night One and Two at Catherine Hall. But after Hurricane Melissa devastated the parish in October 2025, organizers were forced to secure a temporary new venue for the 2026 event. Burrell addressed widespread fan backlash over the move away from Montego Bay, noting that the shift is intended to support the city’s long-term recovery.
“There’s been a lot of noise about Sumfest leaving Montego Bay this year, but we don’t pay attention to that noise,” Burrell explained. “Montego Bay is the epicenter of Jamaican entertainment, and it needs space and focus to recover right now. After Hurricane Melissa, things aren’t back to normal — the city needs to be rebuilt bigger and better than before, so we stepped back to let the relevant teams do the work that needs to be done. As Joe Bogdanovich, CEO of DownSound Entertainment, has already confirmed, after this year’s festival, we will be making a major financial contribution to Montego Bay’s recovery efforts.”
When pressed for details about the massive investment required to bring the two headline superstars to the same stage, Burrell declined to share specific figures, saying that the priority is delivering an unforgettable experience for fans rather than highlighting the financial side of the event. “I was distracted for a long time with the Freedom Street negotiations, and when you’re building a creative experience, you have to step away from that kind of talk,” he said. “Once the deal was finalized, our creative team focused entirely on what kind of energy we want to bring to fans, what we want to deliver for the people who love dancehall. We left the numbers and legal details to the accounting and legal teams. My job is just to make sure Vybz gets to the venue ready to put on an incredible show, and that’s exactly what will happen — same with Mavado. Mavado might be laid back and reclusive these days, but there’s no denying his power. His voice will shake this venue to its core.”