MONTEGO BAY, St James — Stars from the west Tommy Lee Sparta and Shaneil Muir are the first acts confirmed for Dream Weekend 2026 — a six-day spectacle set for July 30 to August 4 in the resort city.

Estimated to carry $400-million price tag, the announcements came during Wednesday night’s Dream Weekend 2026 media launch held at Pier One Restaurant.

In his presentation, Ron Burke, Dream Weekend festival manager, spoke to the “two Montegonians; one no stranger to the stage at Dream Weekend that we feel critical as we now enter the city of Montego Bay…. First and foremost, the lady Shaneil Muir, one of your stars from Montego Bay. And… Tommy Lee himself will be on board for Dream Weekend 2026”.

Chairman of Dream Entertainment Kamal Bankay added that more artistes announcements are slated in the long run-up to the event.

“[W]e have a live performer on almost all of our events. So if we announce eight events, you’re going to see eight plus artistes on Dream Weekend. We just announced two, because they’re close to home; they’re from here. They live here. They embody the spirit of this city, and they are two of our headliners this year,” Bankay shared.

He explained that after 16 years in Negril, where Dream Weekend was founded in 2009, the event has outgrown the town’s available infrastructure. The closure and redevelopment of Cool Runnings Water Park — its largest venue — and the limited 7,000-capacity of the second-largest venue, Waves, left no room for expansion.

“[W]e love Negril and we take nothing for granted,” he added.

Moving to Montego Bay opens access to venues capable of hosting more than 28,000 patrons, organisers said while suggesting that the space would enable the festival to stage larger day-and-night events across multiple locations with hotel partnerships and transportation options.

Harmony Beach Park, the Aqueduct, and the Montego Bay Convention Centre, have been named by organisers as “options for the variations of venues that Montego Bay has to offer”.

Burke expressed confidence that Montego Bay will not face major traffic challenges with the hosting of the multi-day event, noting the city’s proven track record in successfully stating large festivals.

“Sumfest has done it without a doubt, and we are here to just continue the work, bring good vibes, good energy, economic development, job creation,” Burke said.

The festival, reputed to be Jamaica’s largest economic driver among entertainment events, is expected to inject more than $5 billion into the local economy and generate hundreds of jobs during its six days of festivities.

Senior business development officer at Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) Alisair Anderson described Dream Weekend’s relocation to Montego Bay as a game changer.

“This partnership between tourism and entertainment is powerful. Events like Dream Weekend don’t just fill hotel rooms; they fill the streets with music, our people with pride, and our country with growth. And, as the Jamaica Tourist Board, our mandate is to ensure that Jamaica remains top of mind, top of hearts, and top of the list of all travellers everywhere,” she said.

Entertainment Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange, Mayor of Montego Bay Councillor Richard Vernon, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jason Russell, and president of Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association Christopher Jarrett all welcomed the event to the second city.

Kamal Bankay, chairman of Dream Entertainment (Photo: Aceion Cunningham)

ANDERSON…events like Dream Weekend don’t just fill hotel rooms; they fill the streets with music, our people with pride, and our country with growth (Photo: Aceion Cunningham)

Shaneil Muir.

Tommy Lee Sparta.