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Nowa Reggae Festival in Vilanova i la Geltrú Celebrates Two Decades with Special Party

Catalonia's oldest Jamaican music festival commemorates its 20th anniversary with an event at the Zona Esportiva before the main summer edition.

Generic image of a music festival with a lively crowd and stage lights.
IA

Generic image of a music festival with a lively crowd and stage lights.

The Nowa Reggae Jamaican music festival in Vilanova i la Geltrú is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a special event on May 9, 2026, at the Zona Esportiva, ahead of its main July edition.

Two decades after its first edition at the Molí de Mar, Catalonia's longest-running Jamaican music festival comes of age. The Associació Cultural Nowa Reggae has organized a special anniversary party to be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the city's Zona Esportiva, with an extended schedule from 12:00 PM until 02:00 AM the following day.
This celebration is separate from the main summer festival, which this year will take place on July 17 and 18 at Parc de Ribes Roges. Advance tickets for both events are already available through the festival's official channels.
Nowa Reggae was born in 2005 thanks to a group of local enthusiasts who wanted a festival dedicated to reggae and other Caribbean sounds. From its inception, it has been organized by a team of volunteers, a philosophy that has allowed legendary artists such as Lee “Scratch” Perry and Derrick Morgan to grace its stages.
A pivotal moment in the festival's history occurred in 2016, when a ruling by the High Court of Justice of Catalonia forced its relocation from Molí de Mar due to neighbor complaints about noise. This event sparked a citizen support campaign under the slogan “We Don't Make Noise, We Make Culture,” turning the festival into a symbol of the defense of the right to culture in public spaces.
The main draw for the 20th anniversary is the return of Alborosie & Shengen Clan, considered one of the most internationally renowned European reggae artists. The Italian artist, based in Kingston (Jamaica), arrives in Vilanova in the midst of his European Nine Mile Club Tour 2026. The lineup also includes Riddim Riders with Matah, High Paw, Serena, Memi Sillah, and Cookkah P, as well as Luv Messenger, with more artists to be confirmed.
Reaching 20 years in the Spanish festival scene, especially in a niche genre and with a volunteer-based management model, is a remarkable achievement. Nowa Reggae has established itself as Catalonia's oldest Jamaican music festival and an event that has successfully withstood changes and difficulties, becoming part of the emotional calendar of Vilanova i la Geltrú.

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