The countdown is on as preparations intensify for the highly anticipated 2026 Jamaica Festival Song Competition Results Show, set for this Saturday, July 25 at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre.Produced by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the 60-year-old competition is the longest-running event of its kind in the country.This year’s nine finalists are currently engaged in intense rehearsal preparing to deliver captivating performances before a live audience and viewers across the island and the world. The production team is also putting the finishing touches on what promises to be a spectacular showcase of Jamaica’s premier original music competition.The 2026 competition has been one of the most competitive in recent years, attracting 189 entries from talented songwriters and performers across the island. Following a rigorous adjudication process, the field was narrowed to 33 semi-finalists, who advanced to the public voting and performance stages. After weeks of spirited competition and overwhelming public support, the journey has now culminated in the selection of nine outstanding finalists, each vying for the coveted 2026 Jamaica Festival Song title.This year’s finalists are: Aba Jones – Teet A Fi Me; Elton Earlington – Proud A Jamaica; dBURNZ – I Love Jamaica; Ovando Levy – Jamaica School; Trisstar – I am Jamaican; Brother C – Jamaica Woie; Bovia – Jamaica Pon Di App; Lady Jazz – Jamaica a Fiwi Island; and Song Bird – My Jamaica Land of Festival.Executive Director of the JCDC, Lenford Salmon said the final week of preparations reflects the Commission’s commitment to delivering a first-class production worthy of the finalists and the Jamaican people.“The excitement continues to build as we enter the final week before the results show. Our finalists are fully immersed in rehearsals, working closely with our production team to ensure they deliver memorable performances on competition night,” Salmon said.He continued, “At the same time, our technical crews are putting the final elements in place, including state-of-the-art lighting, exceptional sound engineering and high-quality stage production that will provide an outstanding experience for both our live audience and viewers at home. We are confident that this year’s results show will be an unforgettable celebration of Jamaican music, creativity and culture.”The JCDC is encouraging Jamaicans from across the island to come out and support the finalists as they celebrate the enduring legacy of the Jamaica Festival Song Competition and the power of music to inspire national pride and unity.Jamaicans at home and abroad can also vote for their favourite entry. Persons can register their vote by either using the number assigned to each finalist, or by voting on the Reggae Jamaica App which is available for download from the Google Play Store or the App Store.Since 1966, the Jamaica Festival Song Competition has been part of the landscape of Jamaica’s music and culture. The competition has become a showground for aspiring artistes, songwriters and producers and aims to identify a new and original song that is reflective of the spirit of the Jamaican people. The song provides a musical backdrop for the annual celebration of Jamaica’s Emancipation and Independence.entertainment@gleanerjm.com