Caribbean Music Awards 2026 Brings the Caribbean’s Many Sounds to Trinidad & Tobago

The 2026 Caribbean Music Awards brought its fourth annual celebration to Trinidad & Tobago for the first time, turning Port of Spain into a gathering point for artists, industry leaders, media and fans from across the region and its diaspora.

Held at the National Academy for the Performing Arts, the three-day Elite Weekend Experience placed the full range of Caribbean music in focus, from Soca, Calypso and steelpan to Dancehall, Reggae, Bouyon, Konpa, Dennery, Zess, Jab and Chutney Soca. Under the theme “Sounds of the Caribbean,” the weekend paired awards-night celebration with industry conversations, performances, a globally connected red carpet and a closing tribute to Trinidad & Tobago’s steelpan legacy.

More than 100 artists and creatives joined regional and international media, cultural leaders, industry professionals and audiences at NAPA for the event, which marked a new destination-based chapter for the Caribbean Music Awards.

A Fitting Home for Caribbean Music

rinidad & Tobago’s role as the birthplace of calypso, soca and limbo gave the 2026 ceremony a meaningful backdrop. Kenny Phillips, chairman of NAPA, called the occasion “a defining moment” for both the venue and the region.

Trinidad and Tobago is the heartland of Carnival and the birthplace of calypso, soca and limbo, with a cultural influence that has helped shape the sound, movement and identity of the Caribbean, Phillips said.

He added that the event brought Caribbean artists, creatives and diaspora communities “under one roof” and praised the turnout, production and energy throughout the weekend.

The program began with “Caribbean Music in the Global Space,” an industry conversation featuring Billboard’s Kyle Denis, Island Music Conference founder Judith Bodley, CMA-nominated artist Keshav and other regional voices. The discussion considered what sustainable global success could look like for Caribbean artists, along with the need for stronger regional unity, infrastructure and industry development.

[Additional Read: Shenseea, Vybz Kartel & Bad Bunny Shine at Caribbean Music Awards 2025]

An Awards Night Spanning Generations

The main ceremony at NAPA was hosted by Majah Hype and Nailah Blackman, and featured performances from 1T1, Theomaa, FreeTown Collective, Mela Caribe, Christo, Lil Kerry, V’ghn, 450, Jah Mason, Harmonik and Muddy.

The night also recognized several foundational figures in Caribbean music. Patra received the Lifetime Achievement Award, Calypso Rose received the Elite Calypso Award, Alan Cavé was honored with the Elite Konpa Award and Shynereceived the Global Ambassador Award.

Trinidadian artist Lady Lava led the winners with four awards: Female Soca Artist of the Year, Zess Artist of the Year, Zess Song of the Year for “Bob the Builder,” and Chutney Soca Song of the Year for “Cyah Pick” with Ravi B.

Kes won Male Soca Artist and Soca Performer of the Year, while Full Blown received the Soca Impact Award and shared two additional honors: Soca Song of the Year with Yung Bredda for “The Greatest Bend Over” and Soca Video of the Year for “Good Spirits.”

Dancehall winners included Shenseea, Valiant, Ding Dong and Ayetian, who received both Dancehall Best New Artist and the Dancehall Impact Award. “Shake It to the Max (FLY) [Remix]” by Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng and Shenseea won both Dancehall Song and Collaboration of the Year. The win also made Ghanaian artist Moliy the first Ghanaian recipient of a Caribbean Music Award.

Elsewhere, Joé Dwèt Filé won across the French Caribbean and konpa categories, Mr. Ridge took Bouyon Artist of the Year, V’ghn represented jab, Umpa won Dennery Artist of the Year and Ravi B led the chutney soca field. Reggae honorees included Lila Iké, Buju Banton, Chronixx, Keznamdi and Protoje.

2026 Caribbean Music Awards Winners

• Bouyon

  • Artist of the Year: Mr. Ridge

  • Song of the Year: 1T1 & Theomaa, “Bouwéy”

  Caribbean Fusion

  • Artist of the Year: FreeTown Collective

  Chutney Soca

  • Artist of the Year: Ravi B

  • Song of the Year: Lady Lava & Ravi B, “Cyah Pick”

  Dancehall

  • Female Artist of the Year: Shenseea

  • Male Artist of the Year: Valiant

  • Album of the Year: Prince Swanny, Saint

  • Best New Artist: Ayetian

  • Collaboration of the Year: Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea, “Shake It to the Max (FLY) [Remix]”

  • Impact Award: Ayetian

  • Performer of the Year: Ding Dong

  • Song of the Year: Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea, “Shake It to the Max (FLY) [Remix]”

  • Video of the Year: Masicka, “Rich Sex”

  Dennery

  • Artist of the Year: Umpa

  • Song of the Year: Klassik Frescobar, “Dansa”

  French Caribbean

  • Artist of the Year: Joé Dwèt Filé

  • Song of the Year: 1T1 & Theomaa, “Ouba”

  International DJ

  • Female International DJ of the Year: DJ Ana

  • Male International DJ of the Year: Ricky Platinum

  Jab

  • Artist of the Year: V’ghn

  • Song of the Year: V’ghn & Terra D Governor, “Jab Decisions”

  Konpa

  • Artist of the Year: Joé Dwèt Filé

  • Song of the Year: Joé Dwèt Filé, “4 Kampé”

  Latin Caribbean

  • Artist of the Year: Bad Bunny

  Reggae

  • Female Artist of the Year: Lila Iké

  • Male Artist of the Year: Buju Banton

  • Album of the Year: Chronixx, Exile

  • Best New Artist: Cholita

  • Collaboration of the Year: Lila Iké featuring Masicka, “Romantic”

  • Impact Award: Keznamdi

  • Song of the Year: Protoje, “BIG 45”

  Soca

  • Female Artist of the Year: Lady Lava

  • Male Artist of the Year: Kes

  • Best New Artist: Coutain

  • Collaboration of the Year: Trinidad Killa & Nicki Minaj, “Eskimo”

  • Impact Award: Full Blown

  • Performer of the Year: Kes

  • Song of the Year: Yung Bredda & Full Blown, “The Greatest Bend Over”

  • Video of the Year: Full Blown, “Good Spirits”

  Zess

  • Artist of the Year: Lady Lava

  • Song of the Year: Lady Lava, “Bob the Builder”

  Other Awards

  • Music Cruise of the Year: UberSoca Cruise

  • Music Event of the Year: Reggae Fest — CJ Milan, Freedom Street

  • Music Festival of the Year: Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival

  • People’s Choice Award: Alkaline

  Honorary Awards

  • Lifetime Achievement Award: Patra

  • Elite Calypso Award: Calypso Rose

  • Elite Konpa Award: Alan Cavé

  • Global Ambassador Award: Shyne

  • Pan Maestro Icon Award: Dr. Len “Boogsie” Sharpe

  • Golden Ear Icon Award: Dr. Bertram “Birch” Kelman

  • Legacy Pillar of Pan Award: Pan Trinbago

  The winners reflected the reach and range of Caribbean music today, spanning established icons, regional hitmakers, diaspora stars and emerging artists across multiple genres and territories.

Red Carpet and Elite Weekend Highlights

Before the ceremony, the 2026 CMA red carpet drew more than 50 press and media outlets representing Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, the United States, Canada, the French Caribbean, the United Kingdom and other international markets.

Patra, Shyne, Alan Cavé, Kes, Moliy, Nailah Blackman, Lady Lava, Alison Hinds, 450, Ayetian, V’ghn, Full Blown, Keshav and Yung Bredda were among the artists and personalities on the carpet. Fans worldwide could watch through the awards’ partnership with Trace, while Billboard streamed the experience across Billboard TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung TV Plus and its digital channels.

The weekend’s first welcome reception brought guests including Alison Hinds, Shyne, V’ghn, Yeza, Jimmy October, CHILLBILL and Majah Hype together at NAPA ahead of the show.

Saturday’s pre-show celebration featured Kristina James, Kris Kennedy, Sekon Sta, Star Martin, Kimba Sorzano and Rae, with DJ sets from One Gyal Army and DJ Tash.

Watch: Billboard’s 2026 CMA red carpet coverage on YouTube

Steelpan, Legacy and What Comes Next

The experience closed with the Stars & Steel Concert & Awards, a Sunday program centered on Trinidad & Tobago’s steelpan heritage. The National Philharmonic Orchestra String Quartet performed alongside Angela Hunte, Sherwin Gardner, Kempes Ramnarine, Derron Sandy as Anansi and Juss Lizz & The Meadows.

Hunte joined the orchestra for “Caribbean Woman Power,” which included orchestral versions of Rihanna’s “Diamonds,” “Umbrella” and “Only Girl (In the World).” Juss Lizz & The Meadows performed Gloria Estefan’s “Reach.”

Patra made a surprise return to the stage for a “Queen of the Pack” mashup with the Mittco Steel Orchestra, while Jah Mason also returned unexpectedly to perform “My Princess Gone.”

The closing program honored key steelpan figures and institutions: Dr. Len “Boogsie” Sharpe received the Pan Maestro Icon Award; Dr. Bertram “Birch” Kelman received the Golden Ear Icon Award; and Pan Trinbago received the Legacy Pillar of Pan Award.

At its best, the Caribbean Music Awards does more than announce winners. It creates a space for Caribbean artists, genres and communities to see one another clearly. Its Trinidad & Tobago debut made that purpose tangible, bringing legacy artists and emerging voices together in a country whose cultural influence continues to shape the sound and spirit of the region.

Follow the Caribbean Music Awards on Instagram and visit CaribMusicAwards.com for future announcements.