Kingston, Jamaica: The Honourable Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, and Entertainment & Sport is advising that the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) has made some changes to the modality to be used for the 2026 National Festival of the Performing Arts Competition. This decision was made necessary by the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
The major changes will see an adjusted deadline for entries to be submitted (now January 15, 2026), and a pivot to virtual pre-competition workshops and virtual parish auditions.
The National Festival of the Performing Arts Competition, the island’s foremost and most venerable cradle for the development of the performing arts, features Dance and Deaf Dance, Drama and Theatre Arts, Traditional Folk Forms, Music and Speech.
These changes will ensure that students, schools and community groups, especially in the hardest-hit parishes, are still able to participate. The Category 5 hurricane severely affected St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, St James and Trelawny, causing widespread damage to venues and disrupting electricity and telecommunications services. These challenges have made traditional face-to-face parish auditions impossible for the upcoming season, prompting the need for a revised approach.
Minister Grange said ensuring participation from affected communities remains central to the Commission’s plans. “We are fully aware of the conditions in the field, and after much deliberation, we determined that these setbacks required significant adjustments to the season,” she said. “As a result, the deadline for submissions has been extended from December 22 to January 15, 2026, giving schools and community groups additional time to complete their applications.”
“In addition, entrants will also be required to submit a performance video of the item being entered. These videos should be uploaded to the JCDC’s online portal www.jcdc.awardsplatform.com. The videos will be used for the virtual staging of the parish auditions,” Minister Grange added.
Executive Director of the JCDC Lenford Salmon outlined that although the entry deadline is January 15, participants will have an additional week to upload their performance videos to the online platform. “If performers are experiencing difficulties, they are encouraged to contact or visit the JCDC office in their parish for assistance. We are here to assist them and to ensure a smooth process”.
Once uploaded, a panel of adjudicators will review the videos, and selected pieces will advance to the parish finals scheduled for March 2026. The format for Parish Finals is still under review. A final decision will be made closer to the date and will be determined by prevailing conditions at that time.
Minister Grange also pointed out that the decision to proceed with the Festival reflects the important role of the Arts in national recovery. “In times of national hardship, the arts have always provided Jamaicans with a source of comfort, expression and healing. Many families are still trying to recover from the impact of Hurricane Melissa, and we believe creative engagement can play a cathartic role in helping our children and communities cope. That is why, after consulting with our stakeholders, we agreed that continuing the Festival of the Performing Arts is both necessary and meaningful at this time.”
The Jamaica Festival of the Performing Arts Competition is held annually to unearth, develop and showcase the creative talents of Jamaicans from all walks of life. Over the years, the programme has benefitted thousands of participants through training, exposure and recognition, allowing them to contribute meaningfully to the creative and cultural industries and to the building of Brand Jamaica.
This closing date for entries for the National Festival of the Performing Arts has been extended to January 15, to accommodate persons affected by the recent passage of Hurricane Melissa. Other changes to the annual event includes a virtual staging of parish auditions. Persons are required to submit performance videos with each entry.
