Reggae on the River 2026 adds Burning Spear, expands roots-heavy lineup

Burning Spear will close out Saturday when Reggae on the River returns to the Humboldt County redwoods Aug. 14 to 16, giving the long-running festival its clearest legacy statement yet: this is still a roots gathering, but one built for more than nostalgia.

The April 10 lineup update pushed that message hard. Phase 3 added Burning Spear alongside Cham, Ding Dong and Ravers Clavers, Devin the Dude, Blvk H3ro, Junior Toots, Leaf of Life, Reggae Angels, Mystic Roots, Jah Bruce Sol, Horizon, Seed-n-Soil, Hella Mendocino and Rising Signs. Taken together, the additions widen the bill well beyond a single lane of reggae, folding in dancehall, roots, hip-hop, local crews and younger voices without losing the festival’s center of gravity.

That layering had already been in motion. Phase 2 brought in The Movement, Jah9, Samory I, Perfect Giddimani, Rik Jam, Mystic Marley, Teflon Young King and Mighty Mystic, while Phase 1 set the tone with Kabaka Pyramid, Don Carlos, Dezarie, Big Mountain, Iba Mahr, Subatomic Sound System, Prezident Brown, Ka$e, Army and SIMRIT featuring Purity Attack. Burning Spear’s addition now places one of roots reggae’s most revered catalogs at the top of a lineup that stretches from veteran icons to newer names still building their footing.

The booking reads like an intergenerational handoff. Don Carlos, Burning Spear and Prezident Brown speak to the foundation; Kabaka Pyramid, Jah9, Samory I, Iba Mahr and Perfect Giddimani carry the modern roots conversation; Cham, Ding Dong, Devin the Dude and Subatomic Sound System widen the lane into dancehall, hip-hop and dub-heavy crossover spaces. That mix is exactly what makes this year’s edition feel aimed at a full community rather than a narrow scene segment.

The practical details matter just as much. Children under 12 will attend free, teens and seniors get special rates, and VIP packages include front-row dancing, happy hour perks and wellness and beauty offerings. Organizers also flagged that tickets were moving fast, with Tier 1 pricing set to rise May 1, a straightforward signal that waiting could cost both money and access.

For fans weighing the trip, the pitch is clear: this year’s Reggae on the River is not just stacking names, it is curating a living meeting point between heritage and current sound. Burning Spear closing Saturday gives the weekend its anchor, and the rest of the bill gives it reach.