Runkus to bring culture, new music to MoBay festival

Runkus is excited to headline the 2026 MoBay Creative Arts Festival at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre on Sunday, joining a line-up of creatives celebrating Jamaican music, art and culture.

“I feel great about headlining the MoBay Creative Arts Festival. It’s a major deal. I was a part of the Kingston one,” the musician told The Gleaner. “It’s a great deal and a great honour that I not only take very serious, but look forward to.”

He sees his music as more than entertainment, but as a vehicle for freedom, inspiration and cultural expression.

“Rastafari seh free and liberate di people dem, and art and culture is one of the main factors of liberating di people dem. So I hope my words and my music bring di people that [same] inspiration,” he shared.

The free all-day festival, presented by Kingston Creative, will also feature live music and dance performances.

Blending reggae, dancehall, hip-hop, and experimental sounds into a style entirely his own, Runkus is celebrated for his lyrical depth, dynamic performances, and collaborations across genres. He has contributed to projects such as Jesse Royal’s ROYAL, Protoje’s A Matter of Time and Naomi Cowan’s Welcome To Paradise.

He released his latest album, SUPERNOVA, in May.

“I look forward to performing new music. I have a lot of new music, a new record, a new album, and just sharing culture, art — you know, music and dance — wid di people dem. I love to see the creativity of our Jamaican people, so any space that creates an opportunity for the culture to thrive, yuh know mi all fi dat,” Runkus said.

SAINT International will also host a fashion show and a Fashion Face of the West Model Search, creating opportunities for aspiring models to win a modelling contract. Hopefuls should come out at 1 p.m. for the Model Search and catch the fashion show at 3 p.m.

The artisan village will also feature several local creatives.

There will also be guided tours of the new murals, and opportunities for emerging creatives to showcase their talents in an Open Mic segment.

“The festival also serves as an economic development platform, creating earning opportunities for local artisans, vendors, performers, and creative entrepreneurs while helping the west to recover,” said Andrea Dempster Chung, executive director of Kingston Creative. “We hope to see many other events and murals taking place in Montego Bay and a strengthening of our partnership with Montego Bay Creative Arts Network.”

Mayor of Montego Bay Councillor Richard Vernon stated, “The success of the last staging of the MoBay Creative Arts Festival has encouraged many creatives to step forward, expressing their quiet determination to establish a space for themselves socially and economically within our community. This second staging has the potential to reinvigorate a creative movement in our society, one that is gradually taking root and shaping the cultural identity of Montego Bay.”

As Kingston Creative continues to expand its work to the west, more murals, training, festivals and tours are planned for Montego Bay.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com