Protoje, Lila Iké for Food, Rum & Reggae Festival

Grammy-nominated reggae artiste Protoje will return to his home parish of St Elizabeth this November as the headline performer for the 2026 Treasure Beach Food, Rum & Reggae Festival, set for November 6-8. He will be joined by fellow Grammy-nominated reggae singer Lila Iké as the festival returns with an expanded three-day format.

The announcement of Protoje as headliner is especially significant to organisers following the disruption caused by Hurricane Melissa last year.

Born in the parish, Protoje has emerged as one of Jamaica’s leading contemporary reggae artistes, taking Jamaican music to audiences around the world.

Festival partner and Marketing Director for West Palm Events Jason Ricketts said the opportunity to welcome Protoje home for the festival has generated tremendous excitement.

“What is amazing about this staging is that we have a native son of the soil who is headlining the show –Protoje. The people of St Elizabeth are very excited and ecstatic to see him,” said Ricketts. “We are inviting Jamaicans and visitors alike to come and indulge in our food, indulge in our boutique hotels and villas here in Treasure Beach, and really experience everything this community and the wider south coast have to offer.”

This year, organisers are introducing a three-day format, allowing patrons to experience more of Treasure Beach beyond the festival’s signature Saturday activities.

The festivities begin on Friday, November 6, with Dubwise, an evening celebrating reggae, dub and Jamaica’s legendary sound system culture.

Saturday, November 7, remains the heart of the festival, bringing together the elements patrons have come to know and love. Guests can explore the artisan village and farmers market, sample an array of Jamaican flavours at the food court, and celebrate the farmers, producers, chefs, artisans and entrepreneurs who contribute to the cultural and culinary identity of the Breadbasket Parish.

As evening falls, the focus shifts to the main stage for live performances by Protoje and Lila Iké. The weekend culminates on Sunday, November 8, with the 7/11 Beach Party.

Festival Director Gregory Wright said this year’s staging represents an important new chapter for the event.

“I’m truly honoured to be hosting the Food, Rum & Reggae Festival again this year. Off the heels of being affected by Hurricane Melissa last year, we’re grateful to be back, bigger and better and taking the festival to new heights,” said Wright. “We’re looking forward to hosting local and international guests and having an amazing festival... We guarantee an unforgettable experience is in store.”

The expanded format is also designed to encourage patrons to experience more of Treasure Beach– from its boutique hotels and villas to its restaurants, beaches, local businesses and communities.

Following Hurricane Melissa, the festival team staged a special one-day benefit concert in Kingston in December 2025 in place of its originally planned festival weekend. The event rallied patrons, performers, sponsors, farmers and artisans around agricultural recovery and ultimately enabled the festival to fulfil its commitment of $1 million to support farmers in St Elizabeth impacted by the hurricane.

Its return to Treasure Beach therefore carries added significance for organisers and the wider community, signalling another step forward in the recovery of one of Jamaica’s most distinctive tourism and agricultural communities.

The festival will be staged across BREDS Sports Park and Jack Sprat.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com