The highly anticipated return of the National Festival of the Performing Arts - National Finals will take centre stage at the Little Theatre, 4 Tom Redcam Drive, Kingston 5 commencing Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. The national finals will be open to the public free of cost.

The signature event organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, will see performers from across the island compete in Jamaica’s premier cultural showcase for a chance to take home a national title in the areas of Traditional Folk Forms, Drama, Speech, Music and Dance.

Performances will be held in Dance on Tuesday, May 31 and Saturday, June 11; Drama on Tuesday, June 7; Speech on Wednesday, June 8; Music on Thursday, June 9 and Traditional Folk Forms Friday, June 10.  Drumfest, is a pure percussion event that will be held on Thursday, June 2 at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre, Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, beginning at 4:00 p.m. 

Director of Arts Development and Training at the JCDC, Andrew Brodber notes that despite the many setbacks as a result of the global pandemic, the Commission was unable to stage live performances of the National Finals for two years.  As the restrictions have lifted to some degree, we are happy to have the most highly anticipated competition return face to face with an audience. The JCDC stages the Festival of the Performing Arts annually to unearth, develop, showcase, preserve and promote the creative talents and expressions of the Jamaican people.

“Jamaica has set the standards for Performing Arts on the world stage and is well known for its creative expressions and talents in areas of music, dance, speech, and drama. The JCDC National Festival of the Performing Arts provides an excellent pathway for the nation’s most talented to showcase their talents and for patrons to enjoy a dynamic entertainment” Brodber said.

The National Festival of the Performing Arts National Finals will set the stage and kickstart the JCDC signature events leading into the Jamaica 60 celebrations - The Diamond Jubilee.