From May 20 through May 25, the island hosted the annual festival for the first time in its two-decade history.
Known for its strong Dutch influence, Curaao is a melting pot of cultures, where residents speak Papiamento, Dutch, English and Spanish. For six days, the island was immersed in a universal language - music and comedy.
This marked the festival's first year in Curaao following a brief stop in St. Maarten in 2025 and a long-running run in neighboring Aruba since its inception. This year, thousands of attendees from across the United States and the Caribbean traveled to the island for performances by comedians JJ Williamson, Chris Spencer and "Black-ish" star Deon Cole.
The 2026 Soul Beach Music Festival also featured a major concert event Saturday night, set against a seaside backdrop. Performers included Curaao singer-songwriter Raey, North Carolina R&B group Jodeci and Grammy Award-winning artist Babyface.
Each day kicked off with beach parties at venues such as Que Tapa, the Renaissance Wind Creek Curaao Resort, Mambo Beach and Papagayo Beach. Nights wrapped up with high-energy events featuring DJs like DJ E-Clazz, DJ Trauma, DJ Outkast, and the iconic DJ Jazzy Jeff.
The festival also provides a boost to the local economy. Festival CEO Mark Adkins said he's hopeful the event will return to Curaao next year.
"For years I dreamed of performing at this festival," comedian JJ Williamson said. "I got the call, and now I'm finally here."
The move to Curaao also marked the first time Babyface and Jodeci performed in the country.
"We're loving it," said Jodeci's K-Ci Hailey. The group is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its debut album, Forever My Lady.
"We've got a lot of plans for Jodeci - things that will shock the world," Hailey said. "We want to say more, but we can't just yet. We thank our fans for everything."
The Soul Beach Music Festival is held the Wednesday before Memorial Day weekend and runs through the holiday.