Image: Tizzy Tokyo
Thousands Gathered at Markham Fairgrounds for a Landmark Celebration Featuring Stephen Marley and The Marley family, Busta Rhymes, Shabba Ranks, Canadian All Star Showcase and Many More
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Following an unforgettable day of music, culture and community, Kaya Fest is celebrating the resounding success of its first ever Canadian edition, held Saturday, August 22, 2026 at the Markham Fairgrounds. Bringing together an international lineup alongside some of reggae and hip-hop’s most celebrated artists, the festival welcomed a global audience from across North America for a day that showcased the influence and enduring legacy of reggae and Caribbean music and culture.
Bringing together internationally celebrated artists, Canadian icons and emerging talent, Kaya Fest delivered a full day of live music and cultural celebration led by Stephen, Damian, Julian, and Ky-Mani Marley, Busta Rhymes, and Shabba Ranks. The event was produced by Stephen Marley’s Fruit of Life Productions in collaboration with Wynn Records, Summer of Sound Festivals Inc., Silverback Music, Scorpion Media Group, and Ghetto Youths Foundation.
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“Canada showed us so much love at Kaya Fest. It was powerful to see generations come together through music, culture and education, which is what ‘Education Before Recreation’ is all about. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the first Kaya Fest in Canada such a meaningful celebration of unity and community.” —Stephen Marley
Featuring the enduring influence of Jamaican music and its extraordinary global reach, the Marley brothers carried forward one of reggae’s most influential musical legacies, while dancehall pioneer Shabba Ranks, hip-hop icon Busta Rhymes, and a new generation represented by Lila Iké and Jesse Royal showcased the breadth of sounds and artists that continue to move Caribbean music forward.
@damian.marley8 Marley Family ready!!! Kaya Fest debuts in Toronto with @StephenMarley @DamianMarley @MaestroMarley @JulianMarley and many more this Saturday, August 22 at Markham Fairgrounds!! SATURDAY see you… #welcometojamrock #viral #damianmarley #tiktok #followers ♬ original sound – Damian Marley
Kaya Fest also celebrated Canadian talent through its Canadian All Star Showcase, featuring performances from Jully Black, Exco Levi, Kirk Diamond and TOBi. Bringing together artists spanning R&B, reggae, hip-hop and dancehall, the showcase celebrated Canada’s own deep connection to global music and the artists who continue to shape its evolution at home and abroad.
Despite inclement weather, including intermittent lightning strikes which resulted in multiple delays throughout the day, the dedication and enthusiasm of Kaya Fest fans never wavered. With safety as the top priority, organizers seamlessly adhered to emergency protocols when necessary, safely allowing audiences to remain on site and shelter in place while ready to celebrate, creating an undeniable and electric energy that carried through the festival and underscored the strength of the community that came together for the event.
Beyond the stage, Kaya Fest created a gathering place for the diverse communities that have helped make the Greater Toronto Area one of the world’s most important cultural centres for Caribbean music outside of the Caribbean. Fans came together across generations and backgrounds, reinforcing the festival’s vision of using music as a bridge between cultures while honouring the roots, history and continuing evolution of the sounds represented throughout the day.
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The 2026 Kaya Fest Toronto lineup included: Stephen Marley, Damian Marley, Ky-Mani Marley, Julian Marley, Shabba Ranks, Busta Rhymes, Lila Iké, Jesse Royal, YG Marley, Yohan Marley, DJ Shacia Päyne Marley, Mystic Marley, Hymn Marley, Zion Marley, King Cruff, Elijah Marley, Skippa Mak Marley, Papoose, CuhDeeJah, Emmerson, Nina Sky, Jully Black, Kirk Diamond, Exco Levi, TOBi, KC Clarke, Rory (of Stonelove), Jazzy T (of Renaissance Sound), Smoke DZA, Statik Selektah and Flash Garments, as well as Spexdaboss and DJ Mad Out co-hosting the entire event.
The festival also generated significant attention beyond the grounds, with dozens of accredited media outlets, coverage from Breakfast Television, Global News Toronto, Complex Canada, Kaboom Magazine and more, reaching hundreds of thousands of people across media formats in the days surrounding the event.
This year, Kaya Fest’s “Education Before Recreation” theme came to life through the Film Symposium, curated by Humanity Ova Vanity (HOV) and powered by the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS), featuring films exploring cannabis, criminalization, representation, and its role as a sacrament. The evening closed with a powerful celebration of legacy, bringing the Peter Tosh and Marley families together for a fireside chat with Niambe Tosh, as we acknowledge 50 years since the pioneering hit “Legalize It.”, and an acoustic performance by Sharon Marley of “One Draw” honoring Rita Marley’s advocacy for cannabis education.
Following the success of the 2026 festival, Kaya Fest organizers are already looking ahead to what comes next with further announcements to come, and a commitment to return to Toronto in the future.
