New York, NY — Vybz Kartel, the king of dancehall, recently announced his long-awaited return to the U.S. stage with his first performance in over 20 years on Friday, April 11, 2025, at The Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Presale began on Tuesday, March 4th.
Due to the concert’s high demand, Vybz Kartel and the event organizer Reggae Fest have added a second date at Barclays for Saturday, April 12, 2025. General tickets for both shows go on sale tomorrow, March 6th at 10 am ET. More info HERE.
- Advertisement -
The first quarter of 2025 has seen Vybz Kartel plant a flag for Jamaican dancehall. Since his U.S. and UK visa was reinstated at the end of January, the renowned musician has hit the ground running, creating excitement with every move.
“This is a monumental moment for me and the culture. To be back on U.S. soil performing for my fans is a blessing that I don’t take lightly. The wait is finally over. New York, get ready,” Vybz Kartel states.
Kartel, whose visa was revoked in the early 2000s, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to perform again in one of dancehall’s most critical markets.
CJ Milan, CEO and Founder of Reggae Fest, adds, “This is going to be the biggest dancehall concert in U.S. history. To be at Barclays Center with the biggest dancehall artist in the world is epic! It’s about time dancehall got the recognition it deserves. I’m very excited to have Vybz Kartel for his first U.S. show.”
Fans can expect an electrifying performance as Kartel takes the stage with a catalog of timeless hits and new material that continues to resonate worldwide.
In February 2025, Vybz Kartel returned to U.S. soil for the first time in over two decades. He attended the 2025 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, CA, where he was nominated for his first Grammy for Best New Reggae Album. He also traveled to England to attend the MOBO Awards, where he received the prestigious Impact Award following a heartfelt introduction by fellow dancehall star Spice. Kartel also took to the MOBO stage to perform a medley of chart-toppers like “Fever” and “Clarks.” On July 13, 2025, Kartel will perform at the 20th anniversary of London’s Wireless Festival, joining 3-day headliner Drake, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Summer Walker, and Burna Boy.
The accolades continue to pour in. Vybz Kartel was featured on the Spring 2025 cover of the United Kingdom’s The Face Magazine (on stands now) and graced the cover of Billboard’s first issue of 2025. He recently linked with Twitch streamer Kai Cenat on the Grammy red carpet and chopped it up with Noreaga and DJ EFN on the latest episode of Drink Champs, which has earned over 1M+ Youtube views.
His latest album Viking (Vybz Is King): 10th Year, Anniversary, was released on January 31, 2025 via (Adidjahiem Records/TJ Records), and features classic hits from his 2015 album Viking, including “Unstoppable,” “Gon Get Better” (sampled by pop group Fifth Harmony), “Dancehall,” and “Enchanting” along with seven new tracks like “Amout,” “Str8 Vybz,” and “God Is The Greatest.”
