CITY SPLASH 2026 7 BEST MOMENTS: WITH BERES HAMMOND, JADA KINGDOM AND ELEPHANT MAN
CITY SPLASH 2026 7 BEST MOMENTS: How London’s Biggest Caribbean Festival Took Over Brockwell Park…
There are festivals that entertain, and then there are festivals that feel like a direct reflection of the communities they represent. Returning to Brixton’s Brockwell Park for another sold-out edition, City Splash 2026 cemented its status as London’s ultimate celebration of Caribbean culture.
From world-class dancehall and reggae to the local sound systems keeping the bass heavy, the energy this year was unmatched. If you missed out—or just want to relive the magic—here are the 7 best moments that made this year’s festival completely unmissable.
1. Jada Kingdom commanding the crowd
From the second she stepped onto the stage, Jada Kingdom proved exactly why she is one of the most exciting forces in modern dancehall. Command is an understatement; her stage presence had the massive crowd locked in from start to finish. Moving effortlessly through hits like “What’s Up (Big Buddy)”, “GPP” and “Turn Me On”, she had thousands of fans screaming back every single lyric.
2. Aidonia bringing the heavy-hitting reloads
For those who love their dancehall with high intensity and legendary status, Aidonia delivered the set of the day. Feeding off the crowd’s massive energy, he rolled through anthems like “Yeah Yeah”, “Banga” and “Tip Pon Yuh Toe”. Each wheel-up felt entirely earned, with Brockwell Park matching his energy bar for bar.
3. Elephant Man proving he is still the “Energy God”
If anyone was going to turn a muddy London park into a full-blown Jamaican street dance, it was Elephant Man. Delivering a masterclass in crowd control, the veteran artist had the entire festival site moving. Nostalgic favourites like “Pon De River, Pon De Bank”, “Signal Di Plane” and “Willie Bounce” caused absolute chaos, proving that his legendary status is firmly intact.
4. Gyptian’s ultimate sing-along session
Bringing a change of pace but definitely no drop in crowd volume, Gyptian delivered a set soaked in pure nostalgia. The moment the opening notes of “Hold Yuh” echoed across the park, the collective roar from the crowd was deafening. Alongside timeless anthems like “Wine Slow” and “Beautiful Lady”, it was a beautiful, sun-drenched moment of pure unity.
5. So Solid Crew repping UK music heritage
City Splash has always done an incredible job of bridging the gap between Caribbean roots and the UK sounds they inspired. So Solid Crew took to the stage to deliver a massive trip down memory lane. With Lisa Maffia bringing effortless charisma alongside Romeo, Dandada and the rest of the crew, it was a timely reminder of their undeniable impact on British music culture.
6. The unstoppable energy of the sound systems
The heartbeat of City Splash will always be the sound systems and DJs scattered across the site. Whether you were grabbing food or walking between main stages, there was a soundtrack waiting for you. High-energy sets from the likes of Dankie Sounds, DJ Larni, Supa D and Cold Steps kept the party alive all afternoon, sparking spontaneous dance circles across the grass.
7. Beres Hammond’s legendary headline set
As night fell, thousands gathered at the main stage for a masterclass in lovers rock. Beres Hammond took the headline slot and turned Brockwell Park into one giant, soulful choir. Performing for nearly two hours, his catalogue of classics—including “Rockaway”, “I Feel Good” and “Tempted To Touch”—brought multiple generations together in a moment of pure, heartfelt appreciation. It was the perfect, peaceful ending to an incredible day.
Photos by Josh Snaps
Words Nickeeba Archer
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