Vybz Kartel to Embark on First-Ever African Tour in May 2026

Dancehall icon reportedly set to perform across Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya, with Ghana also discussed as a possible stop. The tour is slated for May 2026, as additional “Gaza vs Gully” dates across the U.S. and Europe are also expected to be announced

Vybz Kartel set for African Tour (Photo: Jessica Bui)

Jamaican dancehall giant Vybz Kartel is set to embark on his first-ever African tour, slated for May 2026.

According to multiple reports across the continent, with several events already confirmed, the Worl’ Boss is scheduled to perform across East Africa. The regional tour will kick off on May 1 in Kampala, Uganda, at Lugogo Cricket Oval, before continuing on May 2 in Kigali, Rwanda, at BK Arena. The tour will then go to Nairobi, Kenya, where Kartel is expected to deliver a highly anticipated performance on May 8, 2026, at Laureate Gardens.

Kartel enjoys a strong fan base in Kenya, despite never previously staging a major show in the country. Ghana, west Africa, wh0 is also being discussed as a possible additional stop on the African run, also on the table,

Organisers describe the series of events as more than just concerts, positioning the tour as a platform for creative collaboration and cultural exchange, highlighting East Africa’s artistic talent while connecting local creatives with global performers. “This is more than just a concert. It is a movement that brings East Africans together through culture, shared identity and creative energy,” said Bushington of Tunez Records Uganda during the event’s launch.

The African tour adds to the growing list of international appearances following the recently announced two sold-out nights for the ‘Gaza vs Gully’ showdown in Malta, which appears to be part of a wider series of Gaza vs Gully events planned across the United States and Europe, with additional dates expected to be announced, sources indicated.

Following a historic global run in 2025, which included three sold-out shows at Barclays Center in New York and two sold-out nights at London’s O2 Arena, Kartel appears poised for another massive year. Additional tour stops across the U.S. and Europe are also expected to be revealed in the coming months.

The dancehall icon has already been confirmed as a headliner for Reggae Land in the UK on August 1, continuing his international momentum.

Reports indicate that Kartel’s 2025 global run attracted more than 400,000 ticket sales worldwide, further cementing his position as one of dancehall’s most in-demand live performers.