Vybz Kartel Joins Elite Barclays Center Sell-Out Acts with JAY-Z, Beyoncé and Rihanna

As he aims to sell out the Barclays Center on Friday for the third time this year, dancehall phenomenon Vybz Kartel cements his place on the prestigious list of stars that includes Barbra Streisand, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Coldplay, and Buju Banton

The undisputed King of Dancehall, Vybz Kartel, has already made history as the first dancehall artist to sell out the Barclays Center, accomplishing the feat with two consecutive shows on April 10 and 11, each drawing nearly 19,000 fans. On Friday, August 29, he has the chance to add another milestone by becoming one of the rare acts to sell out the Barclays Center three times in a single year.

By doing so, Kartel would cement his name alongside an elite list of international megastars who have sold out the prestigious Brooklyn venue. Since its opening in September 2012, when JAY-Z christened the arena with eight consecutive sold-out shows, Barclays Center has welcomed the world’s biggest performers, including Barbra Streisand, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Coldplay, Madonna, and Bruce Springsteen.

The list extends with stars like New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde, Rod Wave, and Jamaican reggae icon Buju Banton, who delivered a sold-out performance during his Overcomer Tour in 2024. Most recently, Don Toliver joined the Barclays sell-out club in 2025.

The consistent success of these events has cemented Barclays Center as one of the premier arenas in the world, ranked among the nation’s top ten for gross revenue. Kartel’s two sold-out concerts at the venue in April 2025 grossed $8.4 million and drew 31,126 fans, according to box office data reported to Pollstar, setting a new record for the highest-grossing arena concert by a solo Jamaican dancehall artist in U.S. history.

Vybz Kartel during his Barclays concert in April (Photo: Jamar Morris)

Beyond major concerts, Barclays Center also serves as the home of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets and the WNBA’s New York Liberty, and regularly hosts major sporting and entertainment events, including WWE wrestling showcases.

Now, as Kartel prepares to headline the opening night of the Reggae Fest Massive weekend, he has the chance to triple his historic achievement - just one week before making even more history as the first dancehall artist to headline and sell out London’s iconic O2 Arena with back-to-back nights next Thursday and Friday.