TMF Beach 2026 draws massive crowd

Tipsy Music Festival (TMF) Beach 2026 got off to an energetic start on Saturday as hundreds of patrons packed the Copacabana Beach Club on Bay Street for the opening day of the two-day festival.

TMF Beach patrons soak up the music at Copacabana Beach Club. (Photo credit: Leanne McGregor)

The beachfront venue quickly filled with patrons dressed in colourful beachwear and swimwear, creating a lively atmosphere as music, dancing, and entertainment continued throughout the evening.

TMF Beach patrons showcase colourful beachwear. (Photo credit: Leanne McGregor)

TMF Beach patrons showcase colourful beachwear. (Photo credit: Leanne McGregor)

The Twisted Entertainment event, scheduled to run from noon to 8 p.m., began with DJ sets that kept the crowd engaged from the outset. DJs such as Sheldon Papp, Jus Jay, and Noah Powa each took turns behind the decks, delivering a mix of soca, dancehall and party favourites that kept the crowd moving before the live performances got underway around 7 p.m.

The live entertainment opened with new artist Doejay, who drew enthusiastic responses with performances of his popular tracks “Good Better Best” and “2 Bad.” Fans sang along throughout his set, prompting DJ Jus Jay to invite him back on stage to perform his new soca release, “Bartender”.

DJ Jus Jay engaging the crowd during the live performances. (Photo credit: Leanne McGregor)

DJ Jus Jay delivers a high-energy set during the opening day of TMF Beach 2026. (Photos Leanne McGregor)

Momentum continued with one of the island’s fastest-rising performers, Lastacia, who transformed the audience into a massive choir as patrons sang every word of her hit singles, “Active” and “In Out.” Accompanied by two backup dancers, Lastacia’s pulsating dance moves added excitement and helped rouse the crowd.

One of the night’s standout moments came when Jagwa De Champ, who Jus Jay introduced as “the DJ known for bashment,” took the stage. The crowd erupted at the mention of his name, chanting the lyrics to “One Eye Ball” before he uttered a single word. His performance of “Ching Ching” proved to be one of the evening’s highlights as he invited fans onstage to join him in performing the song’s signature dance move, drawing loud cheers from the audience.

Jagwa De Champ performs “Ching Ching” during the opening day of TMF Beach 2026. (Photo Credit: Leanne McGregor)

The energy remained high as crowd favourites Leadpipe & Saddis delivered a hit-filled set that had patrons singing from beginning to end. Saddis also treated fans to his Sweet Soca competition entry, “Skyfall”, which received a warm reception.

Closing the live entertainment was Jordan English, whose performance featured several crowd favourites, including his viral hit “Weatherman”, bringing the opening night’s stage show to an energetic conclusion.

Throughout the evening, festivalgoers could be seen waving their yellow Tipsy-branded cups, dancing, recording videos and singing along with the DJs and performers. 

With an engaging mix of established artists and emerging talent, TMF Beach 2026 delivered a strong opening night, setting the stage for the festival’s highly anticipated second day, the TMF All-White Party, held at the National Botanical Gardens from 3 p.m. to midnight on Sunday.

(LM)