Dancehall star Demarco has withdrawn from Reggae Jam Festival 2026, alleging that contractual obligations connected to his appearance were not fulfilled by the agreed deadline. In statements shared on his official Instagram account, the entertainer said he and his management (Francis Management) made every reasonable effort to resolve the matter before deciding to pull out of the German reggae festival. He also revealed that he would address fans during a live broadcast to provide further clarification on the situation.
In an official announcement, Demarco apologised to fans who were looking forward to seeing him perform, explaining that the decision was reached only after consultation with his management and legal team. “Unfortunately, the contractual obligations required for my participation were not fulfilled by the agreed deadline,” he wrote. “After careful consideration by my management and legal team, we had no choice but to withdraw from the event.” He added that he appreciated the continued support from his fans and looked forward to performing for them again soon.
The accompanying caption offered additional insight into the decision, stating that “certain contractual obligations connected to my appearance were not fulfilled as agreed” despite efforts by his team to resolve the matter. While Demarco did not identify the specific contractual issues or name the party involved, he acknowledged that fans would have questions and announced plans to go live on social media to explain the circumstances behind his withdrawal.
Demarco’s exit comes as Reggae Jam Festival 2026 prepares to welcome reggae fans from around the world to Klosterpark in Bersenbrück, Germany, from 23 to 26 July. The festival has promoted a line-up featuring Tarrus Riley, Dean Fraser, Alborosie, Konshens, Inner Circle and Queen Omega, among others, while branding this year’s staging as a celebration of community, unity and reggae culture under the slogan “One Love. One Community. One Reggae Jam.”
With the festival set to get under way, attention now shifts to Demarco’s promised live address, where fans will be hoping for greater clarity on the contractual issues that led to his withdrawal from one of Europe’s best-known reggae festivals.
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