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Culture and Entertainment Minister Olivia Grange said the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) has made some changes to the modality to be used for the 2026 National Festival of the Performing Arts Competition.
The decision was made necessary by the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
The major changes will see an adjusted deadline for entries to be submitted -now January 15, 2026-, and a pivot to virtual pre-competition workshops and virtual parish auditions.
The National Festival of the Performing Arts Competition features Dance and Deaf Dance, Drama and Theatre Arts, Traditional Folk Forms, Music and Speech.
These changes will ensure that students, schools and community groups, especially in the hardest-hit parishes, are still able to participate.
The Category 5 hurricane severely affected St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, St James and Trelawny, causing widespread damage to venues and disrupting electricity and telecommunications services.
These challenges have made traditional face-to-face parish auditions impossible for the upcoming season, prompting the need for a revised approach.
