Durrant Pate/Contributor

Dream Weekend, one of Jamaica’s largest party marathons, which has been hosted in Negril since its inception in 2009, is moving to Montego Bay next year.

The event, which will run from July 30 to August 4, 2026, is planned to be bigger and better, backed by a $400-million budget and will feature expanded day and night programming, larger venues, roads and new partnerships with hotels and transportation providers. Dream Weekend is an annual five-day party festival, featuring music from top local and international artistes, food, and beverages and has quickly grown to be the Caribbean’s largest music festival, boosting the Jamaican economy. 

“The rumours are absolutely true; we’re bringing Dream to Jamaica’s tourism capital (Montego Bay),” declared Kamal Bankay, chairman of Dream Entertainment Limited, at the recent media launch at Pier One in Montego Bay. He reported that the event is expected to provide 1,000 direct jobs, highlighting that Montego Bay is providing venues that dwarf anything Negril could offer.

Reasons for the switch to Montego Bay

He explained that the closure of Cool Runnings Water Park, which hosted Wet n Wild, Dream Weekend’s largest event in Negril, and limited capacity at other sites, had restricted the crowd size, emphasising that Montego Bay’s venues can host crowds of up to 30,000. Bankay expressed gratitude to the resort town of Negril, its residents and stakeholders, noting that as Dream enters its 17^th year, it needs space to expand, which Montego Bay could afford.

“We created history by making Dream the biggest party festival in Jamaica on the sands of Negril. We are forever grateful to the people of Negril who helped us to create this brand, and without you, we would not be who we are today. So thank you, personally,” he said.

Festival manager Ron Burke cited a number of Montego Bay venues like Harmony Beach, Montego Bay Convention Centre and the Aqueduct, which would be ideal Dream Weekend party locations. He also pointed to the Montego Bay experience hosting Reggae Sumfest and other large-scale events that make it well-suited as Dream Wknd’s new playground.

DreamEntertainment Managing Director Scott Dunn estimates that major events like Sumfest and Dream Wknd, could potentially generate more than J$10 billion next year in economic impact. Dream Wknd also confirmed live performances by Montego Bay artistes Shaneil Muir and Tommy Lee Sparta for next year’s event.

Meanwhile, Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon welcomed Dream Weekend to Jamaica’s second city, noting the city holds 30% of Jamaica’s hotel rooms, receives 70% of incoming flights and has one of the largest airports in the English-speaking Caribbean. He emphasised that the city’s crime rate has dropped in recent years, making it poised to become one of the safest in the region.