Goa Sunsplash is an annual reggae music festival held in Goa, India. It was founded in 2016 by the Delhi-based sound system and reggae collective Reggae Rajahs. The event has grown into the largest celebration of reggae culture in South Asia, drawing international and local artists from genres including reggae, dub, ska, and dancehall. It is known for its beachfront setting and community-focused programming that includes wellness workshops, art installations, and sustainability initiatives.

History

Goa Sunsplash was founded in 2016 by Reggae Rajahs, India’s pioneering reggae sound system crew formed in 2009. Inspired by their performances at reggae festivals worldwide, they sought to create a similar experience in India. The inaugural festival took place in January 2016 on

Anjuna Anjuna (, ; ) is a village located on the coast of North Goa, India. It is a Census Town, one of the twelve comunidades of Bardez. It is mostly a tourist destination. Its church, St. Michael's Church, Anjuna, founded in 1595, is dedicated to ...

Beach, starting as a small gathering with a single sound system. Over the years, it has expanded significantly, featuring multiple stages and a diverse lineup of artists.

Location and timing

The festival is typically held in January, coinciding with Goa’s peak tourist season. Events have been hosted at various beachfront venues, including Riva Beach Resort in Mandrem.

Music and artists

Goa Sunsplash features a mix of international and Indian reggae artists, covering genres such as

roots reggae Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of Ethnic groups of Africa, Africans and those in the African Diaspora, including the spiritual side of Rastafari, black liberation, revolution and the ho ...

, dub,

dancehall Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially, dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots reggae, roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2 ...

, and

ska Ska (; , ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. It combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. Ska is characterized by a w ...

. Past performers include: Goa Sunsplash 2025 - Pic 2

Anthony B Keith Blair (born 31 March 1976), better known by the stage name Anthony B, is a Jamaican DJ and member of the Rastafari movement.Moskowitz, David V (2006) ''Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dance ...

Mad Professor Neil Joseph Stephen Fraser (born 27 March 1955, Georgetown, Guyana) known by his stage-name Mad Professor, is a British dub music producer, engineer and remixer. He has collaborated with reggae artists Lee "Scratch" Perry, Sly and Robbie, ...

Johnny Osbourne Johnny Osbourne (born Errol Osbourne, 1948) is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall singer, who rose to success in the late 1970s and mid-1980s. His album '' Truths and Rights'' was a roots reggae success, and featured "Jah Promise" and the album's t ...

Macka B Christopher MacFarlane, better known as Macka B, (born 1966) is a British-born Jamaican reggae artist, performer and activist with a career spanning thirty years and one of Britain's most influential dancehall DJs. As a practicing Rastaman, Ma ...

Queen Omega (singer) Jeneile Osborne (born c. 1981), better known as Queen Omega, is a reggae singer born in Trinidad. Biography Osborne was born in 1981 in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago.Indian reggae scene.

Activities and features

Beyond music, Goa Sunsplash includes: * Workshops & Talks – Covering topics such as reggae history, social activism, and environmental sustainability. * Yoga & Wellness – Daily yoga and meditation classes. * Art & Culture Exhibits – Featuring live graffiti, dance performances, and cultural showcases. * Flea Market & Food Stalls – Offering crafts and cuisine from around the world.

Reception and impact

The festival has been widely covered in media for its inclusive atmosphere and high-quality production. It has played a significant role in popularizing reggae music in India.

Recent developments

After a hiatus, Goa Sunsplash returned in 2024. The 2025 edition introduced Holi Dub, a one-day event celebrating the Indian festival of colors with reggae music, held on March 14, 2025, at

Thalassa Beach Boutique Resort Thalassa (; ; Attic Greek: , ''thálatta'') was the general word for 'sea' and for its divine female personification in Greek mythology. The word may have been of Pre-Greek origin and connected to the name of the Mesopotamian primordial sea godde ...

in Ashwem Beach.

References

External Links

* {{official website, www.goasunsplash.com Reggae festivals Music festivals in India