Dancehall continues to make an impact worldwide, and this time, it’s Alkaline leading the charge. The Jamaican deejay sold out the OVO Arena Wembley in London for his highly anticipated New Rules Festival. The show is set for Thursday, April 17.
Each year, his global fanbase looks forward to his annual New Rules event. This year’s performance marks Alkaline’s first return to the U.K. stage in eight years. It is another major milestone for the artist and also the genre.
The upcoming show at the iconic 12,500-capacity venue puts him among the global legends who graced the same stage. Icons like Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Queen have all left their mark at the venue. Now the spotlight turns to Alkaline as he prepares to etch his name into the venue’s history. Joining him on this leg of the New Rules tour are two of dancehall’s fast-rising talents, Armanii and Rajahwild.
The Wembley sell-out follows another historical event for the genre: Vybz Kartel’s two-night takeover at Brooklyn’s Barclays Centre, which also sold out. Dancehall continues to expand its reach, which is evident in the numbers, not only in ticket sales but also in streams. According to Prism Marketing Consultant, Billboard reported that the genre amassed over 10.5 billion on-demand streams in 2024 alone.
Alkaline’s latest accomplishment comes on the heels of him receiving an official citation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Senator Liz Miranda presented the citation after his Boston show on March 30. The honour recognises his contribution to Jamaican music and his international influence in dancehall.
In the past, the Champion Boy hitmaker achieved a BPI Silver certification from his collaboration with WSTRN in Txtin’. Alkaline also featured in Givenchy’s Spring-Summer 2023 campaign, reinforcing his versatility. His catalogue includes songs like City, ATM, Formula, Juggernaut, Nah Lef Eh Game, and Ride On Me featuring Sean Kingston.