Dancehall icon Vybz Kartel is officially returning to the Florida stage. The “Miami Vice Episode” deejay announced via social media today that he will perform in Miami on May 17, 2025, marking his first Florida appearance in more than two decades.
The highly anticipated event, powered by Live Nation, is set to take place at Amerant Bank Arena, a venue with a capacity of over 20,000.
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The show, promoted under the banner “Vybz Kartel & Friends,” follows his two-night concert, “Reggae Fest – The Return of Vybz Kartel,” at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on April 11–12, 2025. Those performances mark Kartel’s return to the U.S. stage after more than 20 years, following the reinstatement of his visa in January.
While the Miami flyer teases performances from Kartel’s musical collaborators, no supporting acts have been confirmed yet, and ticket sales have not officially opened. An announcement is expected soon.
Since his return to the U.S., Kartel has kept himself busy, continuing to release music and shore up his international presence. He has dropped official music videos for singles he recorded while incarcerated, including “Miami Vice Episode” and “Ignite the World.” On January 31, 2025, he released his much-anticipated album, Viking (Vybz Is King): 10th Year Anniversary, via Adidjahiem Records and TJ Records. The album commemorates the 10-year milestone of his 2015 Viking project, featuring timeless hits like “Unstoppable,” “Gon Get Better” (sampled by pop group Fifth Harmony), “Dancehall,” and “Enchanting,” along with seven brand-new tracks, including “God Is The Greatest,” “Amout,” “Porn Flick” featuring Ishawna, “It A Tape,” “Dreams Are Made Of,” “Polite,” and “Str8 Vybz,” a tribute to his newly launched rum brand.
Kartel’s resurgence on the international scene follows the reinstatement of his U.S. and U.K. visas, enabling him to make a major impact in the first quarter of 2025. He attended the 2025 Grammy Awards, securing his first-ever nomination for Best New Reggae Album, and later received the Impact Award at the MOBO Awards, where he also delivered a captivating performance.
While the Miami flyer teases performances from Kartel’s musical collaborators, no supporting acts have been confirmed yet, and ticket sales have not officially opened. An announcement is expected soon.
Following his U.S. shows, Kartel will embark on a European tour, with scheduled appearances at Germany’s SummerJam and London’s Wireless Festival in July, further solidifying his enduring influence on the global stage.
Known for reshaping the dancehall genre with his boundary-pushing lyrics and prolific output, Vybz Kartel’s U.S. comeback and international recognition have made 2025 one of the most monumental years of his career.
