Fanatic Festival ready for Ocho Rios debut

After four years and 11 stagings in Kingston, Fanatic Festival is taking its dancehall party to Ocho Rios for the first time at Plantation Cove on Friday, October 16. The festival, which began in 2022, will run from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. as the opening event of Appleton Estate Republic Weekend 2026.

Music has always been at the centre of Fanatic, with deejay juggling, MC interaction, dancehall performances and crowd participation shaping the format. Rather than following a traditional stage-show structure, the entertainment runs continuously throughout the event.

That format will continue in Ocho Rios, with Feloni19 headlining alongside Ai Milly, Top Banks, C9 and Shewahdexta. The DJ line-up includes Fyahman & Vinchi, DJ Devakidd, Mac & Baba, DJ Kryptic and Zacky & Jubba.

For its Ocho Rios staging, Fanatic will take on the theme, Eden, with dark green, tan, brown and other natural tones forming the visual palette. Justin Campbell, director of CNA Entertainment, which produces Fanatic, said the location might be different, but the event’s core would remain the same.

“The look may change. The location may change. But that feeling when the party catches fire? That stays with us,” Campbell said at the recently staged Republic Weekend media launch.

Fanatic will open the four-day Republic Weekend, which runs from October 16–19 at Plantation Cove. Rosé N Roses and Night Carnival follow on Saturday; Republic Beach Club is set for Sunday; and #SSS Republic Bush will close the weekend on Heroes Day Monday.

The move north follows Fanatic’s most recent Kingston staging in July, which organisers said exceeded their expectations. That event featured performances from Malie Donn, Eddy G Bomba, Merkz, Feloni19 and Ymo G before the Ocho Rios staging was announced.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com