Two of R&B’s most enduring voices are closing out one of the Caribbean’s signature music events next spring.
Fresh off their sold-out “The Boy Is Mine Tour,” Brandy and Monica have been announced as headliners for the 2026 Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, setting the stage for a Mother’s Day finale built around pure vocal power and ’90s-era nostalgia.
Festival organizers confirmed that the Grammy Award-winning artists will headline The Ultimate Celebration on Mother’s Day, delivering the closing performance of the multi-day festival. The announcement has already sparked strong international buzz, reinforcing the event’s position as one of the region’s most established cultural showcases.
Early bird tickets for the 2026 edition are now officially on sale.
A Finale Built for a Big Finish
Brandy and Monica’s return to the stage together has been one of R&B’s most talked-about live pairings in recent years. Their chemistry — shaped by decades of solo careers and the enduring popularity of their duet “The Boy Is Mine” — gives the festival a headlining moment that blends nostalgia with contemporary appeal.
Festival Chairman Thaddeus M. Antoine said their inclusion adds significant star power to what organizers describe as a carefully curated lineup spanning jazz, gospel, soca, reggae, Afrobeats, country and soul.
The Mother’s Day finale will also feature Saint Lucian guitarist Kyle Ernest, British soul icon Beverley Knight alongside Mervin Wilkinson and Friends, and legendary hitmaker Billy Ocean, whose catalog of feel-good classics makes him a natural fit for the celebratory close.
A Multi-Genre Week Across Saint Lucia
The 2026 Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival opens April 30 and runs through Mother’s Day weekend, offering a mix of international headliners and regional talent.
Opening Night brings a cross-genre blend of Caribbean and international sounds, featuring Capleton, Valiant, Asa Bantan, D’YANI, Shervon Sealy, LM Stone and American country artist Amber Digby.
Pure Jazz – Ladies in Concert will spotlight internationally acclaimed bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding alongside Chantal Esdelle & Moyenne and Saint Lucian artists Camille Charlemagne and Leandra Modeste.
Kingdom Night centers on gospel, with Grammy-nominated singer Tye Tribbett, Ada Ehi, Shirleyann Cyril-Mayers, Nigela St. Clair-Daniel and Saint Lucian gospel performers.
Pure Jazz – Elements of the Arts pairs the Branford Marsalis Quartet with Jesse Billy and a special arts production by the Cultural Development Foundation, blending live performance with visual and creative expression.
Caribbean Fusion leans into high-energy regional sounds, featuring Kes the Band, The Original Wailers with Al Anderson and Skip Marley, Dexta Daps and the Saint Lucian Mélange led by Groovy Soca King Imran Nerdy.
World Beats adds global range with Grammy Award-winning Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems and British R&B star Ella Mai, joined by French Caribbean artist X-Man from Martinique, Lu City, Princess Lover, Les Aiglons de Guadeloupe and October 4.
A Destination Event with Staying Power
Over the years, the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival has evolved into more than a traditional jazz gathering. The programming now stretches across genres and venues, pairing international headliners with strong local representation and positioning the island as both stage and backdrop.
The inclusion of Brandy and Monica underscores that strategy. Their appeal spans generations and markets, drawing fans from North America, Europe and across the Caribbean — a boost not only for ticket sales but for destination travel during the late spring shoulder season.
With early bird tickets now available and a lineup that crosses styles and borders, the 2026 edition is shaping up as one of the festival’s most ambitious yet — closing with two voices that defined an era and still command a global audience.
Caitlin Sullivan
2026-02-12 23:40:00