The 2025 St. Kitts Music Festival, staged at Warner Park from 26th to 28th June, attracted record-breaking crowds, bolstered the island’s off-season economy, and showcased local talent alongside international headliners. Attendance figures soared with nearly 15,000 fans on Friday night, and opening-night tickets selling close to 9,700, creating a vibrant global event on the traditionally quiet tourism “shoulder season.”
Conservative estimates sugges that nearly US $8 million was spent during the weekend, with VIP ticket sales and general admissions driving substantial revenue. Increased airline capacity and full hotel occupancy—including guesthouses—signalled a successful strategy to stimulate tourism in June. Persistent crowds around the island, not just in hotels, reflected deeper economic engagement.
Vendors across food, crafts and services reported thriving sales, with the VIP Xpress Events area, hosting over 1,000 guests nightly, completely sold out. Local acts—such as Akaiiusweet, The Honey Bees, Collin Wyatt and the St. Kitts Steel Orchestra—captivated the audience, receiving high praise for professionalism and international-standard performances.
Calls are now being made in some quarters for the publication of a detailed economic impact report, including insights into public expenditure, ticket revenue, vendor income, and artist fees., highlighting that even a direct operational loss can be offset by broader economic gains.
The festival’s success is also being used as an example of entertainment’s significant contribution to the national GDP with recommendations being made for ongoing investment in artist development and supportive policies.
Participants advocated embedding entertainment into national development strategies, including artist accelerator programmes, micro-grants, and duty-free import concessions for studio equipment.
Minister of Tourism, Marsha Henderson, has also affirmed the festival’s role in sustaining economic activity beyond the traditional peak season.
Organisers and stakeholders agree the festival’s success sets a precedent for upcoming events, such as Carnival and Nevis’ Culturama. Its growing international exposure—including promotions in Times Square—signals St. Kitts’s positioning as a year-round tourism destination.
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