Caribbean Music Awards 2026: A Caribbean Sound Takes the Spotlight in Trinidad and Tobago

Lady Lava, Kes, Lila Iké, Buju Banton, Shenseea, Valiant and a new generation of Caribbean voices headline this year’s winners


PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago — The Caribbean Music Awards returned home to the region on Saturday night, bringing together some of the Caribbean’s most recognised musical voices for a celebration that reflected the breadth, movement and diversity of the region’s sound.

Held at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain on September 19, the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards marked the first time the ceremony was staged in the Caribbean after previous editions were held in Brooklyn, New York.

The 2026 celebration formed part of the Caribbean Music Awards’ Elite Weekend Experience under the theme “Sounds of the Caribbean”, bringing together artistes, industry figures, media and music fans from across the region and its diaspora.

For Trinidad and Tobago, the occasion was also a homecoming of sorts — placing the country’s own artistes alongside performers and creators from across the Caribbean and its wider diaspora.

And the winners reflected that regional reach.

LADY LAVA LEADS A STRONG TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO SHOWING

One of the evening’s most significant results came from Trinidad and Tobago’s Lady Lava.

The artiste was named Female Soca Artist of the Year, while also taking home Zess Artist of the Year and Zess Song of the Year for “Bob the Builder.”

Lady Lava entered the ceremony as the most-nominated artiste, with nine nominations across multiple categories. She also shared the Chutney Soca Song of the Year award with Ravi B for “Cyah Pick.”

Her wins highlighted the increasingly fluid relationship between soca, Zess and other contemporary Caribbean sounds.

Trinidad and Tobago also celebrated with Kes, who was named Male Soca Artist of the Year and Soca Performer of the Year.

Kes’s wins added another major moment to an evening in which several local artistes were recognised across different categories.

REGGAE REMAINS FIRMLY ROOTED

Jamaica’s influence was strongly represented in the reggae categories.

Lila Iké was named Female Reggae Artist of the Year, while veteran Jamaican artiste Buju Banton took the award for Male Reggae Artist of the Year.

Chronixx won Reggae Album of the Year for Exile, while Cholita was recognised as Reggae Best New Artist.

The award for Reggae Collaboration of the Year went to Lila Iké featuring Masicka for “Romantic.”

Keznamdi received the Reggae Impact Award, while Protoje won Reggae Song of the Year for “BIG 45.”

The reggae results brought together established reggae voices with a younger generation of artistes continuing to develop and expand the genre.

DANCEHALL’S NEXT GENERATION STEPS FORWARD

Dancehall was another major part of the evening.

Shenseea won Female Dancehall Artist of the Year, while Valiant was named Male Dancehall Artist of the Year.

Prince Swanny took Dancehall Album of the Year for Saint, while Ayetian was recognised as Dancehall Best New Artist and also received the Dancehall Impact Award.

The award for Dancehall Collaboration of the Year went to “Shake It to the Max (FLY) [Remix]” by MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng and Shenseea.

The same song also won Dancehall Song of the Year.

Ding Dong was named Dancehall Performer of the Year, while Masicka won Dancehall Video of the Year for “Rich Sex.”

The results show how dancehall continues to evolve through collaborations that cross geographical and cultural boundaries.

A WIDER DEFINITION OF CARIBBEAN MUSIC

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of the 2026 winners list was the range of genres represented.

Mr. Ridge won Bouyon Artist of the Year, while “Bouwéy” by 1T1 and Theomaa won Bouyon Song of the Year.

Freetown Collective was named Caribbean Fusion Artist of the Year.

In Chutney Soca, Ravi B won Artist of the Year, while “Cyah Pick” by Ravi B and Lady Lava took Song of the Year.

Joé Dwèt Filé won both French Caribbean Artist of the Year and Konpa Artist of the Year.

His “4 Kampé” won Konpa Song of the Year, while “Ouba” by 1T1 and Theomaa won French Caribbean Song of the Year.

In Jab, V’ghn took Artist of the Year, while “Jab Decisions” by V’ghn and Terra D Governor won Jab Song of the Year.

The recognition extended to Dennery Segment, with Umpa winning Artist of the Year and “Dansa” by Klassik Frescobar taking Song of the Year.

The results reflect a Caribbean music industry that is becoming increasingly diverse, with more of the region’s individual musical traditions receiving a platform.

NEW VOICES SHARE THE STAGE

The 2026 ceremony also placed attention on artistes building their careers within the region’s rapidly changing music landscape.

Ayetian was one of the clearest examples, collecting both the Dancehall Best New Artist and Dancehall Impact Award.

Cholita was recognised as Reggae Best New Artist, while Coutain took Soca Best New Artist.

The International DJ categories also recognised DJ Ana and Ricky Platinum.

Alkaline received the People’s Choice Award.

MORE THAN AWARD

The ceremony also recognised the wider Caribbean entertainment ecosystem.

UberSoca Cruise was named Music Cruise of the Year, while the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival received the award for Music Festival of the Year.

Reggae Fest — CJ Milan was named Music Event of the Year, with the official winners material identifying the event in connection with “The Return of Vybz Kartel.”

These categories broaden the conversation beyond recording artistes and songs, acknowledging the festivals, events and experiences that help move Caribbean music to audiences around the world.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO BECOMES PART OF THE STORY

The decision to bring the Caribbean Music Awards to Trinidad and Tobago was significant.

After three years in Brooklyn, the 2026 ceremony placed the awards directly within the region whose music and culture they celebrate.

The response in Port of Spain demonstrated the depth of that connection.

Local artistes celebrated alongside performers from Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Grenada and other Caribbean territories, while genres that developed in different corners of the region shared the same awards platform.

That may ultimately be one of the most important messages from the 2026 ceremony.

Caribbean music is not one sound.

It is reggae and dancehall. Soca and calypso. Bouyon and Dennery. Chutney Soca, Zess and Konpa.

It is music shaped by migration, history, language, culture and the constant exchange between islands and communities.

The Caribbean Music Awards 2026 brought many of those sounds together in one room.

And in Port of Spain, the region had an opportunity to celebrate not only its biggest stars, but the musical culture that connects them.