CITY SPLASH 2025: Let’s get one thing straight. City Splash isn’t just a festival – it’s a cultural reset. A spiritual link-up. A waistline workout. It’s where you reconnect with your roots, your people, your playlist, and maybe even your summer ting.

It’s a cultural pilgrimage. A day where the spirit of the Caribbean and Africa rises through sound, movement, and unapologetic celebration. If you’re not in Brockwell Park on Monday 26th May, cancel your plans and fix that immediately. Brockwell Park is the place to be. Sun or no sun, City Splash is a certified shutdown.

“City Splash is therapy with a sound system,” someone said last year. And honestly, they weren’t wrong. This year? Nah, this year’s different. Popcaan is landing and ready to mash up the main stage with the kind of set that’ll live in your camera roll and your memory for life. You know what time it is when you hear ‘Ova Dweet’, ‘Family’, or ‘Everything Nice’. Vibes? Unruly.

Spice will also be in attendance. And if you’ve never seen her perform live, please understand. It’s a workout. A spectacle. A full-blown theatrical experience. Every lyric, every whine, every outfit is maximum energy. She’s not performing. She’s commanding.

Then there’s Tarrus Riley. A legend whose voice alone might have you calling your ex mid-set. ‘Sorry fi Maga Dog’ and ‘Lighter’ are bound to hit differently when the sun’s dipping behind the trees and the crowd’s singing along like a choir. Certified goosebumps every time.

Want vibes with a side of what is this beat doing to my body? That’s where Teejay, Valiant and Odumodublvck come in. The new wave is crashing down hard this year. Not to mention appearances by Sasha Keable, Kybba, Sad Boi and the legendary Ms Dynamite! City Splash is the only place you’re catching all of them in one space. If you’re not brukking out by 2pm, give it 10 minutes.

Let’s not play. The Compozers are also pulling up, and when they touch a stage, the party becomes a full-blown live concert experience. If you know, you know. If you don’t, you’re about to be a Compozers convert before the set’s even over.

And the DJs? Madness. Certified shellers across every stage. Rampage, DJ Pioneer, Shayna Marie, Sir DJ Corey, DJ AG, Supa D, Neptizzle. Selectors who know how to read a crowd like a book and drop riddims at exactly the right time. You’ll be whining, skanking, bussin’ gun fingers and sipping punch without even realising you’ve been on your feet for six hours straight.

And let’s not forget Channel One, Iration Steppas, and Aba Shanti-I. These aren’t just DJs. These are sound system royalty. You won’t just be hearing music. You’ll be deep in the basslines and waistlines!

Then you’ve got the food. Wow, the food. Jerk. Plantain. Doubles. Rice n’ peas. Curry goat. And at least five stalls arguing over who does the best rum punch. (Spoiler alert—they all slap). The only hard decision is which one to eat first and whether you’re willing to queue again for round two.

We talked about the vibes, the music, the DJ lineups. But the fashion? Say less. Let your creativity peak. From traditional garms to head-to-toe drip, Brixton becomes a runway of culture. Lashes long. Nails loud. Clarks creased from dancing. That Afrobeat-meets-Dancehall aura fills the air. This is the event that kicks off summer in all the right ways.

And hands down, the best part is the people. Whether you’re travelling far or you’re a true Brixton native, there are no bad vibes. No egos. Just love, rhythm, energy, and community. Proudly keeping festival-goers hydrated in style, Drip Water joins City Splash as an official partner for 2025. With sleek packaging and premium hydration, Drip is the go-to choice for staying cool while turning up!

This festival is loud, proud, and absolutely legendary, so book the day off if you haven’t already. Charge your phones. Pack your essentials. Bring your best energy. 

Welcome to Brixton!

Photo by Luke Dyson

Words by Nickeeba Archer