The New Year Groove concert returned for its second edition on January 1, turning BK Arena into a packed celebration of music, rivalry and fan devotion.

Organised by singer The Ben, the 2026 edition carried extra excitement thanks to a friendly but electric face-off between him and fellow superstar Bruce Melodie, who shared headlining duties.

ALSO READ: East African sounds take over Kigali as Joshua Baraka leads ‘Reset 2026’

From early evening, fans streamed into the arena wearing customised T-shirts, waving banners and painting their faces in colours linked to their favourite artiste, setting the tone for a night driven as much by fandom as by music.

Singer and producer Yeweeh opened the show, warming up the crowd before handing over to Diez Dolla. The young artiste drew loud cheers as he ran through fan favourites including Repete and Zangalewa, effortlessly connecting with the audience.

Alto followed with a smooth vocal set, delivering Byambera, Ntaribi and Wankomye to an engaged crowd.

Rapper Logan Joe received one of the loudest receptions of the night. His performance of songs such as Forever, Treasure and Ntiwamvamo kept the energy high inside the arena and reaffirmed his growing popularity.

Other notable moments included Gisa Cy’Inganzo, who made his first stage appearance since announcing his comeback, drawing warm reactions from longtime supporters.

The Sherrie Silver Foundation followed with a dance and music showcase that blended choreography, emotion and strong stage presence. DJ Brianne and her dancers later pushed the tempo even higher with energetic mixes that rattled the arena.

Bianca took the stage to build anticipation before Bruce Melodie’s entrance. When he finally appeared, the arena erupted in sustained screams. Midway through his set, Mighty Popo impressed the crowd with an instrumental interlude as Bruce briefly exited for an outfit change, returning moments later to even louder cheers.

Bruce Melodie’s performance moved swiftly through his catalogue, reflecting a noticeable evolution in his stage delivery. Throughout his set, chants of his name competed with calls for The Ben, keeping the rivalry alive in the stands.

One of the night’s most emotional moments came when Bruce performed his gospel song Umugisha. Kneeling before he began, he caught the crowd off guard, earning prolonged applause. He closed his set by premiering the music video for Pom Pom, featuring Diamond Platnumz and Joel Brown, which lit up the arena screens.

As the final headliner, The Ben took the stage to deafening cheers. He delivered a polished set featuring hits such as Habibi, I’m in Love and Sibeza, joined by Tom Close.

Pausing to reflect, he acknowledged his longtime collaborator.

“I would not be here right now if it wasn’t for Tom Close,” he told the crowd.

The arena sang along to Roho Yanjye in near-perfect unison, creating one of the night’s standout moments. Traditional dance troupe Inyamibwa later joined him for a performance that blended contemporary music with cultural expression.

The surprises continued as The Ben welcomed Uganda’s Rema Namakula for their collaboration This Is Love, followed by Kevin Kade, who brought added energy to their joint song Sikosa.

Gisubizo Ministries. closed the performances alongside The Ben with their new gospel song, giving the concert a reflective and uplifting finish.

Before leaving the stage, The Ben told fans the show marked the beginning of a broader vision, stressing that unity and collaboration among artistes remain essential to pushing Rwandan music forward.

The concert officially ended at 2:15 a.m.

The event was hosted by journalists Anitha Pendo and Lucky Nzeyimana and drew several notable figures, including Minister of Youth Jean Nepo Abdallah Utumatwishima, Minister of Foreign Affairs Olivier Nduhungirehe, and public personalities such as Junior Giti, Knowless, Platini, Nel Ngabo, Clapton, Israel Mbonyi, Fally Merci and Uncle Austin.

Bruce Melodie’s performance showcased his hits and showed how much his stage presence has grown during the Groove concert at the BK Arena on January 1

Fans streamed into the BK Arena wearing customised T-shirts, waving banners, and painting their faces in the colours of their favourite artists,

The Ben took the stage and delivered a polished performance, captivating fans with hits like Habibi, I’m in Love, and Sibeza during the New Year Groove concert at the BK Arena on January 1. Photos by Kellia Keza.

Ugandan artist Rema Namakura took the stage at the Groove Concert, delivering an unforgettable performance at the BK Arena on January 1.