Monéa Dropped From 2026 Festival After Turning
Monéa (Monéa L. Richardson) says she was left off the 2026 Tortola Emancipation Festival lineup after organisers raised concerns about how to market a show that would exclude her more explicit songs. In a Facebook Live video, the artiste — who in 2025 became the first Virgin Islands performer nominated at the Caribbean Music Awards — said the omission stemmed from a misunderstanding after she told organisers earlier this year that she was taking a music break and dedicating her life to Christ. Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) reports Monéa accepted a later booking at the St John Festival and delivered a trimmed-down set; she regrets explaining which songs she would not sing because, she says, that allowed organisers to assume the rest of her performance would change drastically.
Richardson), the Virgin Islands artiste known for her Tropikana fusion of dancehall and pop and hits such as "Inna Di World (Sniper) [Remix]" (feat. Dexta Daps), "Greenlight," "Big Boss," "Gypsy," "Easy," and "FLT" (feat. Zerimar), says she was ultimately not included on the 2026 Tortola Emancipation Festival lineup after conversations with organisers over the kind of set she would perform.
In a Facebook Live video reported by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), Monéa said organisers first contacted her in late January or early February. At that time she told them she was on a music break, exploring a spiritual path and "dedicating [her] life to Christ." She said she also made clear she would not perform "super-explicit" songs but offered to appear and sing tracks such as "Big Boss" and "Easy," along with new material that would remain within her vibe.
According to Monéa, festival organisers replied that it was the explicit songs audiences wanted and that they would discuss the matter and get back to her, but she says she never heard back. Monéa accepts that practical factors such as the festival's budget and planning timelines may have influenced the decision not to book her, but she found it odd that new acts continued to be announced for the lineup.
When her break ended, Monéa accepted a booking at the St John Festival and performed a trimmed-down set. She described that performance as successful despite omitting some of her biggest hits, telling VINO that it was "a great show" even without those songs. Monéa said she later reopened discussions with Tortola organisers and felt they reacted as if she would not do the type of performance expected.
She told VINO she now regrets giving a detailed list of what she would and would not sing, saying those explanations may have created room for assumptions about the rest of her set. Reflecting on the episode, Monéa told fans the experience highlighted stereotypes people attach to Christians. "This is about a personal relationship with Christ," she said, adding that she is trusting a "sanctification process" and asking for grace as her convictions evolve.
Monéa, who in 2025 became the first Virgin Islands artiste to receive a Caribbean Music Awards nomination, said she still wants to perform at home and believes her track record in Tortola shows she can deliver strong live shows while honouring her personal convictions. The 72nd Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival on Tortola runs from July 25 to August 8, 2026, at Festival Village in Road Town.
The confirmed entertainment lineup includes regional names such as Beres Hammond, Popcaan, Sizzla, Patrice Roberts, Nadia Batson, R. VINO is the source for Monéa's comments and the festival's reported booking discussions.
Primary source: VINO