Caribbean Music Awards set to return for fourth year
The Caribbean Music Awards’ (CMA) is set to return to Brooklyn’s King’s Theater for its highly anticipated fourth annual celebration.
The event usually takes place on the Thursday before the massive West Indian-American Day Carnival Parade on Labor Day Monday.
According to the Caribbean Elite Group (CEG), organizers of the spectacular show, CMA will deliver its “most expansive and electrifying edition yet, spotlighting the artists, songs, and cultural innovators shaping the global sound of Caribbean music.”
“This year marks a major milestone with over 250 nominees across more than 40 categories, reflecting the rapid global rise, diversity, and creative expansion of Caribbean music,” said CEG, stating that voting officially opened on June 10, 2026, and will remain open through Aug. 10, 2026, giving fans worldwide an extended opportunity to support their favorite artists, songs, and cultural icons.
Building on its commitment to cultural expansion and genre inclusivity, CEG said the awards event introduces a “powerful slate of nine new and expanded categories,” spotlighting Dennery Artist and Song of the Year, Zess Song of the Year, Konpa Song of the Year, Chutney Soca Artist and Song of the Year, Jab Artist and Song of the Year, and French Caribbean Song of the Year.
“These additions further solidify the Caribbean Music Awards as the most comprehensive platform celebrating the full spectrum of Caribbean sound,” CEG said. “This year’s nominations tell a defining story of a rapidly evolving musical landscape driven by collaboration, genre-fluidity, and global crossover success.”
It said leading the artist field is Lady Lava, who emerges as the most nominated artist with nine nominations, “reflecting her rare cross-genre presence across Soca, Zess, Chutney Soca, and performance categories.”
CEG said that close behind is a “tightly packed group of dominant forces shaping the year’s soundscape,” with Ayetian, Machel Montano, and V’ghn each securing seven nominations, “underscoring their wide-ranging impact across Dancehall, Soca, and collaboration-heavy categories.”
Shenseea and Skillibeng follow with six nominations each, while Masicka, Popcaan, Valiant, Vybz Kartel, and Yung Bredda each earn five nominations, “reinforcing the continued global dominance and cultural influence of Dancehall and Soca’s leading voices,” CEG said.
It said a strong second tier of consistent contenders also emerges with Full Blown, Jesse Royal, Joé Dwèt Filé, Kes, Lila Iké, Lola Doll, Mical Teja, Mikado, and Voice, each earning four nominations, “highlighting the depth and competitive balance across genres including Reggae, Soca, Konpa, Zess, and French Caribbean music.”
On the song side, CEG said “Shake It to the Max (Fly) Remix” by Moliy, Skillibeng, Shenseea & Silent Addy leads the 2026 field as the most nominated song of the year, earning three nominations across multiple categories, the highest total for any single track.
“Its cross-category strength highlights its broad cultural reach across Dancehall, collaboration, and visual recognition, cementing it as one of the defining records of the year,” CEG said.
Following closely, it said a group of standout records each earned multiple nominations across the field, including “Wah Yo Deh Pon,” “Passenger Princess,” “Jab Decisions,” and “4 Kampé II.”
“Together, these tracks represent a strong tier of nominations and reflect a year defined by collaboration, genre fusion, and regional crossover success,” CEG said.
“From Soca and Dancehall to Reggae, Konpa, Chutney, Zess, Dennery, and beyond, the Caribbean Music Awards continues to stand as more than an awards ceremony,” it added. “It is a global cultural movement celebrating the heartbeat, innovation, and worldwide resonance of Caribbean music.”
CEG said the platform amplifies both established icons and emerging voices, “connecting Caribbean culture to audiences across the world through sound, storytelling, and shared identity.
“Building on the momentum of last year’s ceremony, an historic edition that premiered on BET for the first time and marked a major breakthrough moment for the Awards on global television, the Caribbean Music Awards continues its rapid rise as a premier international platform for Caribbean excellence,” CEG said.
It said that milestone broadcast expanded the Awards’ global reach and “firmly established it as a cultural force recognized far beyond the region.”
