Jamaica Food and Drink Festival begins today with KUYAH

The award-winning Jamaica Food and Drink Festival begins today in Kingston, running from March 5 to 8, following last November’s postponement due to Hurricane Melissa.

Now in its 12th year, the Jamaica Food and Drink Festival remains a three-time recipient of the World Culinary Awards Caribbean’s Best Culinary Festival, most recently in 2025. The event brings together world-class chefs, live reggae performances and a showcase of local coffee culture in one immersive, four-day celebration. It continues to position Kingston as a leading culinary destination in the region, attracting chefs, visitors and tastemakers from across Jamaica, the wider Caribbean, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Presented by Visa and hosted by CB Foods, the 2026 staging will feature four of the Jamaica Food and Drink Festival’s signature events: KUYAH, DECADE 2.0, Meet Street & The Market, and Boozy Brunch.

On Thursday, KUYAH takes over Festival Marketplace in downtown Kingston, where 13 chefs will showcase contemporary Jamaican cuisine. International Chef Scotley Innis joins the line-up, which includes chefs André Sewell, Dominic Pearson and Jacqui Tyson. The evening features a live acoustic set by reggae artist Jesse Royal.

On Friday, DECADE 2.0 unfolds at Sabina Park. More than 20 chefs will participate in the all-inclusive culinary showcase, presenting signature dishes and new concepts that reflect the evolution of Caribbean food culture. The event brings together favourites, including Crisp, Pork Palooza, Picante and Chopstix under one experience. Participating chefs will include Brigette Joseph, Brian Lumley, Mark Cole, Trevanne Donegal and Saleema Barclay.

On Saturday, Meet Street and The Market will transform Hope Botanical Gardens into a family-friendly daytime culinary showcase featuring more than 80 vendors, food trucks, artisans and culinary entrepreneurs. This year, Meet Street will collaborate with the Tourism Enhancement Fund to jointly host the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival, expanding the focus on local enterprise and coffee culture.

The festival weekend concludes on Sunday, with the signature Boozy Brunch hosted at a private residence overlooking Kingston. It will see the return of Chef Lumley, along with chefs Lisa Binns, Christopher Binns, Charissa Skyers, Simon Levy and Shyana Hibbert.

Festival Director Alicia Bogues said the return reflects the strong support the event continues to receive.

“People come to Kingston for this festival every year, from across Jamaica and throughout the region, and we’ve felt that support even during the postponement. March 5 to 8 is our moment to bring everyone back together and to celebrate how far Jamaica’s culinary scene has come. We’re ready.”

The organisers note that the event generates activity across Kingston’s hospitality and small business sectors, including hotels, short-term rentals, restaurants and local vendors.

lifestyle@gleanerjm.com