MONTEGO BAY, St James — Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex, which is currently in no shape to host Reggae Sumfest 2026, should be back up and running by the Emancipendence holidays, according to Urban Development Corporation (UDC) Chairman Norman Brown. He has also signalled that the UDC will soon resume discussions with Sumfest organisers about their long-stated wish to be granted a long-term lease for the space.

“I want to see if I can bring it back for the Independence holiday because I know that there is a jerk festival [Montego Bay Jerk and Food Festival] that is supposed to happen during that time. I am working hard to see if I can get it in a state of readiness by the end of July, into August, so that we can host it,” Brown told the Jamaica Observer.

“We have to get back to normal, so we are working towards that,” he added.