The Caribbean Music Awards (CMA) said on Monday, Oct. 26, that its 2026 ceremony reached audiences across the Caribbean and beyond with its global broadcast premiere on Sunday, Oct. 25, bringing the region\u2019s music, artists and cultural influence to screens around the world.<\/p>\n
Held for the first time in Trinidad and Tobago, CMA said the fourth annual ceremony brought together about 100 artists from across international markets, alongside national and international media, industry professionals and vendors, for a celebration of Caribbean music in its many forms.<\/span><\/p>\n The ceremony premiered at 9 PM EST on the official Caribbean Music Awards YouTube channel, with additional streaming and television distribution through TRACE+ and select TRACE channels, alongside broadcast partners across the Caribbean.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n CMA said broadcast partners included CNC3 in Trinidad and Tobago, CVM in Jamaica, CBC\/TV8 in Barbados, TeleCura\u00e7ao in Cura\u00e7ao, MBC TV\/Real FM in Saint Lucia, SVG TV in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, TV15 in Sint Maarten and Channel 105 via Flow TV in Dominica.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Presented by Trinidad Tourism Limited, the ceremony is available to watch on YouTube for a limited time, CMA said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Held Saturday, Sept. 19, at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, CMA said the ceremony served as \u201cthe centerpiece\u201d of its Elite Weekend Experience under the theme \u201cSounds of the Caribbean.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n From Nailah Blackman\u2019s debut performance of \u201cLova Gyal\u201d to Lady Lava\u2019s four-award sweep, with three awards accepted in person during the ceremony, CMA said the 2026 Awards celebrated the \u201ctalent and cultural influence shaping Caribbean music.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n CMA said Lady Lava won Female Soca Artist of the Year, Zess Artist of the Year and Chutney Soca Song of the Year for \u201cCyah Pick\u201d with Ravi B, with her fourth award received outside the show.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Moliy also made history as the first Ghanaian artist to win a Caribbean Music Award, earning Dancehall Song of the Year during the ceremony and Dancehall Collaboration of the Year outside the show for \u201cShake It to the Max (FLY) [Remix]\u201d alongside Silent Addy, Skillibeng and Shenseea, CMA said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It said other standout moments included Shyne\u2019s reflections on Caribbean music\u2019s influence on hip-hop and Patra\u2019s surprise closing performance, \u201cunderscoring the sounds, stories and cultural impact of Caribbean music on a global stage.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n CMA said Nailah Blackman kicked off the ceremony with the debut performance of her new song \u201cLova Gyal,\u201d accompanied by the premiere of its official music video.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Majah Hype joined Nailah Blackman onstage as the duo officially welcomed the NAPA audience and viewers across the Diaspora and around the world, \u201cmarking a milestone as the Caribbean Music Awards brought its ceremony to Trinidad & Tobago for the first time,\u201d CMA said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It said the ceremony introduced the \u201cLand of the Jab\u201d segment, celebrating the high-energy sounds associated with the jab tradition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n CMA said Grenadian soca artist V\u2019ghn performed \u201cJab Decisions,\u201d followed by Grenada’s Muddy delivering \u201cPayroll\u201d and Dominica’s Lil Kerry performing \u201cMayhem.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Television personality and former Miss Haiti Jessie Woo, alongside Sarodj Bertin, presented the evening\u2019s first award, Dancehall Best New Artist, to Jamaican-Haitian artist Ayetian, CMA said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Bajan artist Jordan English, known for his \u201cWeatherman\u201d song, and Dominica’s Jael Joseph presented Caribbean Fusion Artist of the Year to Trinidad & Tobago’s Freetown Collective, CMA said.<\/span><\/p>\n Lead vocalist Lou Lyons spoke to the importance of the win beyond national borders, sharing, \u201cThis is not a win for Trinidad and Tobago or Calypso or Soca music, this is a win for the entire Caribbean because every Caribbean person is influenced by everything in the Caribbean\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n CMA said Angela Hunte and Mr. Ridge presented the Soca Impact Award to Full Blown, who dedicated the recognition to their grandparents and team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Soca and calypso veteran Terri Lyons presented the first honorary recognition of the evening to legendary calypsonian Calypso Rose.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In one of the evening’s most moving moments, CMA said Calypso Rose was wheeled onto the stage to a roaring reception.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As her famous song \u201cCalypso Queen\u201d played, CMA said she recited some of its lyrics, creating a special moment of recognition for one of the Caribbean’s most influential musical figures.<\/span><\/p>\n CMA said 450 brought the energy with performances of \u201cJourney\u201d and \u201cWild and Rich,\u201d followed by Jah Mason, who took the stage with \u201cMy Princess Gone.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ayetian and Moliy presented Bouyon Artist of the Year, presented by the Discover Dominica Authority, to Mr. Ridge.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The win marked his third time receiving the award, CMA said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It said Trinidad & Tobago’s Lady Lava received Zess Artist of the Year, presented by Full Blown, recognizing the genre’s roots in Trinidad.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Anika Berry presented Dennery Segment Song of the Year to Klassick Frescobar for \u201cDansa.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n CMA said Haitian konpa singer Mackendy Talon, frontman of Harmonik, presented the Elite Konpa Honor to Alan Cav\u00e9, \u201ccelebrating a defining figure in konpa love music.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Yung Bredda presented Dancehall Song of the Year to Ghanaian artist Moliy for \u201cShake It to the Max (FLY) [Remix],\u201d featuring Shenseea, Skillibeng and Silent Addy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Accepting her first Caribbean Music Award in person, Moliy reflected on the doors the song had opened and the warm welcome she received from the Caribbean music community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis is my first CMA Awards and what a blessing it is to physically be here to receive it,\u201d she said. \u201cYou know, when I wrote this song, I had no idea the doors it would open for me. I had no idea I would be welcomed into this amazing community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAnd I feel like I belong here, I feel like I might stay a while, like y\u2019all should get used to having me around [smiles],\u201d she added. \u201cI just want to say thank you so much. It\u2019s an incredible honor to be representing Ghana here tonight and to meet all of you. Thank you.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Majah Hype presented Soca Song of the Year to Yung Bredda for \u201cThe Greatest Bend Over,\u201d recognizing the Trinidadian artist’s impact on the contemporary soca landscape.<\/span><\/p>\n Jessie Woo and Teddyson John presented French Caribbean Song of the Year to 1T1 and Theomaa for \u201cOuba.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n CMA said Nailah Blackman presented Male Soca Artist of the Year to Kes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In accepting the award, Kes expressed gratitude for the recognition and the opportunity to celebrate alongside fellow artists.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an honor to be recognized, but it\u2019s [also] an honor to be here and celebrate each other and this is so important,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s just great to see everybody under one roof, and I want to thank CMAs for making this possible every year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0CMA said te evening\u2019s Lifetime Achievement Honor was presented to Jamaican dancehall icon Patra, recognizing a career that helped bring the genre to international audiences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Presented by Seani B and Alison Hinds, CMA said the honor marked \u201ca powerful moment for the artist, whose influence spans generations of dancehall.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n In her acceptance speech, Patra expressed her gratitude for the recognition and paid tribute to the artists and mentors who believed in her, including the late Bunny Wailer, Shabba Ranks, Yellowman, General Trees and Ninja Man.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m still processing this, ever since it was announced,\u201d she said. \u201cI want to thank you guys for recognizing the art, and as we see, it\u2019s one Caribbean.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m influenced by many, but tonight I know it\u2019s a moment that I\u2019m very much appreciative of, and I thank you, Caribbean Music Awards,\u201d Patra added.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Rae and DJ Kevin Crown presented Jab Song of the Year to V\u2019ghn and Terra D Governor. V\u2019ghn accepted the award and invited Lil Kerry and Muddy to join him onstage, recognizing his fellow artists and asking the audience to give them \u201call round of applause.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n CMA said Rome and Star Martin presented Chutney Soca Song of the Year to Lady Lava and Ravi B for \u201cCyah Pick.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Lady Lava accepted alongside producer Rishi Mahato on behalf of collaborator Ravi B.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Before leaving the stage, she was surprised with another announcement: she had also won Female Soca Artist of the Year, adding to a successful night for the Trinidadian artist, CMA said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It said Sherwin Garner introduced Shyne, recipient of the Global Ambassador Honor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Shyne dedicated the recognition to his mother, his daughter Naomi and the people of Belize, reflecting on his journey from Belize to Brooklyn and his evolution across music and public service.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He also highlighted the Caribbean\u2019s longstanding influence on hip-hop, recognizing artists whose music continues to shape the global sound.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to acknowledge the original Global Ambassador, Kool Herc, who created hip-hop from Jamaica,\u201d he said. \u201c So, the Caribbean has always been a part of hip-hop.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In a surprise closing moment, CMA said Patra returned to the stage for a special performance that brought the audience to its feet and closed the ceremony on a high note.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Over the course of about a 10-minute medley, CMA said she revisited dancehall classics including \u201cQueen of the Pack,\u201d \u201cWorker Man,\u201d \u201cRomantic Call\u201d and \u201cPull Up to My Bumper,\u201d while also giving the audience a taste of new music she is preparing to release under J-House Entertainment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Caribbean Music Awards (CMA) said on Monday, Oct. 26, that its 2026 ceremony reached audiences across the Caribbean and beyond with its global broadcast premiere on Sunday, Oct. 25, bringing the region\u2019s music, artists and cultural influence to screens around the world. Held for the first time in Trinidad and Tobago, CMA said the […]<\/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-6023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-latest-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6023","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=6023"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6023\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6023"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6023"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/islandflavaradio.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6023"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}