What's on in Montego Bay (Jamaica), Jamaica through the year

Peak crowds — Winter and cruise season, Christmas and New Year

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Winter and cruise season (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)), Christmas and New Year (18 Dec – 2 Jan)

Busy — Winter and cruise season

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Winter and cruise season (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually))

Busy — Winter and cruise season, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Winter and cruise season (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually))

Busy — Winter and cruise season

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Winter and cruise season (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually))

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

• Season

  Sargassum on the north coast

  1 May – 30 Sep · usuallySargassum season

  The north coast gets far less than the eastern islands, but the bays east of town collect a fringe of weed in summer and the hotels rake it off before breakfast.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Hazard

  Hurricane season

  1 Jun – 30 Nov

  Melissa came ashore in Westmoreland at the end of October 2025 as the strongest storm on record to hit Jamaica, and the west of the island is still rebuilding. September and October are the weeks that count. Source ↗

Still on: Sargassum on the north coast (1 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — Reggae Sumfest, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Reggae Sumfest

  12–25 Jul · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  The island's biggest reggae and dancehall week, normally at Catherine Hall on the edge of town, with the two main nights running until sunrise. The 2026 edition moved east to St Ann after storm damage. Source ↗

Still on: Sargassum on the north coast (1 May – 30 Sep (usually)), Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Busy — Emancipation and Independence, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Emancipation and Independence

  1–6 AugMajor festivalCrowded

  Emancipation on the 1st and Independence on the 6th bracket a week of street dances, church services and family parties. The beaches that week are Jamaican rather than touristic. Source ↗

Still on: Sargassum on the north coast (1 May – 30 Sep (usually)), Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Sargassum on the north coast (1 May – 30 Sep (usually)), Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Busy — Winter and cruise season

• Season

  Winter and cruise season

  15 Nov – 15 Apr · usuallyCrowded

  Ships call at the Freeport pier through the winter and the Hip Strip works to their schedule. The all-inclusives along the coast run full and dear, and the airport transfer queue is its own event.

Still on: Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Peak crowds — Winter and cruise season, Christmas and New Year

• Holiday

  Christmas and New Year

  18 Dec – 2 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  The dearest fortnight of the year on this coast, with Jamaicans home from abroad filling the flights and Jonkonnu troupes out in the street on Boxing Day. Source ↗

Still on: Winter and cruise season (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually))