The Caribbean Music Awards said on Monday, Sept. 28, that its fourth annual awards has officially concluded its inaugural Elite Weekend Experience in Trinidad & Tobago, bringing together more than 100 artists and creatives, international and regional media, industry professionals, cultural leaders, vendors, partners and audiences for three days of music, conversation, celebration and connection at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port-of-Spain, the Trinidad capital.<\/p>\n
Under the 2026 theme \u201cSounds of the Caribbean,\u201d CMA said that the weekend marked the first time the Caribbean Music Awards were staged in Trinidad & Tobago, \u201cexpanding the CMA experience into a destination-based celebration designed to spotlight the depth, diversity and global reach of Caribbean music and culture.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n CMA said the weekend opened Sept. 17 with a series of industry conversations, including \u201cCaribbean Music in the Global Space,\u201d a forward-looking discussion that brought together perspectives from notable Caribbean change-makers including Kyle Denis of Billboard, PR executive and Island Music Conference founder Judith Bodley, CMA-nominated artist Keshav and others.<\/span><\/p>\n Among the topics explored was the future of Caribbean music and what global success should ultimately look like for the region\u2019s artists and industry practitioners, CMA said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It said the conversation also examined how the industry can move beyond a survival economy, the challenges of scale facing small island markets, and whether greater regional unity across policy, infrastructure and industry development can help create a stronger global pathway for Caribbean music.<\/span><\/p>\n CMA said the discussion was one of several panels and industry conversations held throughout the Elite Weekend Experience, \u201ccreating space for artists, executives, media, creatives and other stakeholders to engage with the opportunities and challenges shaping the region\u2019s music industry.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On Sept. 18, CMA said it welcomed artists, special guests, industry figures and partners to its first-ever Welcome Reception at NAPA, \u201ctransforming the venue\u2019s Lobby, Foyer and Batimanzelle Room into an intimate gathering space ahead of the awards weekend.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n CMA said guests included Alison Hinds, Shyne, V\u2019ghn, Yeza, Jimmy October, CHILLBILL and CMA host Majah Hype, among others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The evening also featured an official welcome from Satyakama Maharaj, Minister of Trade, Investment and Tourism, alongside members of the CMA founding team and key figures responsible for bringing the weekend to life, CMA said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It said Saturday\u2019s awards-day experience began with a pre-show celebration featuring performances from Kristina James, Kris Kennedy, Sekon Sta, Star Martin, Kimba Sorzano and Rae, alongside DJ sets from One Gyal Army and DJ Tash.<\/span><\/p>\n CMA said the 2026 red carpet welcomed 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Artists and personalities including Patra, Shyne, Alan Cav\u00e9, Kes, V\u2019ghn,Moliy, Jessie Woo, Nelly Cottoy, Nailah Blackman, Lady Lava, Alison Hinds, 450, Ayetian, 1T1, Theomaa, Ras-I, Coutain, Anika Berry, RAE, KMAN, Lola Doll, Medz Boss, Khallion Klassik Frescobar, Full Blown, Jimmy October, Khallion, Mickael Marabou, Keshav and Yung Bredda, among others, walked the carpet.<\/span><\/p>\n Through its partnership with Trace, CMA said fans around the world were able to experience the CMA Red Carpet live on Trace+ and across Trace\u2019s channels. Billboard, the CMA\u2019s Official Global Media Partner, also streamed the Red Carpet Experience across Billboard TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung TV Plus and Billboard\u2019s digital platforms, CMA said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It said the main Caribbean Music Awards 2026 followed at NAPA, hosted by Majah Hype and Nailah Blackman, with performances from 1T1, Theomaa, FreeTown Collective, Mela Caribe, Christo, Lil Kerry, V\u2019ghn, 450, Jah Mason, Harmonik and Muddy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n CMC said the evening also recognized some of the region\u2019s most influential voices, with Patra receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, Calypso Rose receiving the Elite Calypso Award, Alan Cav\u00e9 receiving the Elite Konpa Award, and Shyne receiving the Global Ambassador Award.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe 2026 Caribbean Music Awards brought the full breadth of Caribbean music into focus, honoring the artists, songs and cultural forces driving the region\u2019s sound forward,\u201d CMA said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It said this year\u2019s winners span generations, territories and genres, from Bouyon, Soca and Dancehall to Reggae, Konpa, Dennery, Zess and the French Caribbean, reflecting the expansive musical identity of the Caribbean and its global diaspora.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The official 2026 Caribbean Music Awards winners are: Bouyon Artist of the Year: Mr. Ridge; Bouyon Song of the Year:\u00a0 \u201cBouw\u00e9y\u201d \u2014 1T1 & Theomaa; Caribbean Fusion Artist of the Year: Freetown Collective; Chutney Soca Artist of the Year:\u00a0 Ravi B; Chutney Soca Song of the Year:\u00a0 \u201cCyah Pick\u201d \u2014 Lady Lava & Ravi B; Female Dancehall Artist of the Year: Shenseea; Male Dancehall Artist of the Year: Valiant; Dancehall Album of the Year: Saint \u2014 Prince Swanny; Dancehall Best New Artist: Ayetian; Dancehall Collaboration of the Year: \u201cShake It to the Max (FLY) [Remix]\u201d \u2014 MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea; Dancehall Impact Award: Ayetian; Dancehall Performer of the Year: Ding Dong; Dancehall Song of the Year: \u201cShake It to the Max (FLY) [Remix]\u201d \u2014 MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea; and Dancehall Video of the Year: <\/span>\u201cRich Sex\u201d \u2014 Masicka.<\/span><\/p>\n Other winners: Dennery Song of the Year: \u201cDansa\u201d \u2014 Klassik Frescobar; Dennery Artist of the Year: Umpa; French Caribbean Artist of the Year; Jo\u00e9 Dw\u00e8t Fil\u00e9; French Caribbean Song of the Year: \u201cOuba\u201d \u2014 1T1 & Theomaa; Female International DJ of the Year: DJ Ana; Male International DJ of the Year: Ricky Platinum; Jab Artist of the Year: V\u2019ghn; Jab Song of the Year: \u201cJab Decisions\u201d \u2014 V\u2019ghn & Terra D Governor; Konpa Artist of the Year: Jo\u00e9 Dw\u00e8t Fil\u00e9; Konpa Song of the Year:\u00a0 \u201c4 Kamp\u00e9\u201d \u2014 Jo\u00e9 Dw\u00e8t Fil\u00e9; and Latin Caribbean Artist of the Year: Bad Bunny.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Additional winners: Female Reggae Artist of the Year: Lila Ik\u00e9; Male Reggae Artist of the Year: Buju Banton; Reggae Album of the Year: Exile \u2014 Chronixx; Reggae Best New Artist: Cholita; Reggae Collaboration of the Year: \u201cRomantic\u201d \u2014 Lila Ik\u00e9 ft. Masicka; Reggae Impact Award<\/span><\/p>\n Keznamdi; Reggae Song of the Year: \u201cBIG 45\u201d \u2014 Protoje; Female Soca Artist of the Year: Lady Lava; Male Soca Artist of the Year: Kes; Soca Best New Artist: Coutain: Soca Collaboration of the Year: \u201cEskimo\u201d \u2014 Trinidad Killa & Nicki Minaj; Soca Impact Award: Full Blown; Soca Performer of the Year: Kes; Soca Song of the Year:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Greatest Bend Over\u201d \u2014 Yung Bredda & Full Blown; Soca Video of the Year: \u201cGood Spirits\u201d \u2014 Full Blown; Zess Artist of the Year: Lady Lava; Zess Song of the Year: \u201cBob the Builder\u201d \u2014 Lady Lava; Music Cruise of the Year: UberSoca Cruise; Music Event of the Year: CJ Milan x Reggae Fest ‘The Return of Vybz Kartel’; Music Festival of the Year: Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival; and People\u2019s Choice Award: Alkaline.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Caribbean Music Awards said on Monday, Sept. 28, that its fourth annual awards has officially concluded its inaugural Elite Weekend Experience in Trinidad & Tobago, bringing together more than 100 artists and creatives, international and regional media, industry professionals, cultural leaders, vendors, partners and audiences for three days of music, conversation, celebration and connection […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-latest-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6018","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6018"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6018\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}