Lady Lava Reigns Victorious at 2026 Caribbean Music Awards: See the Full Winners List

Shenseea, Kes, Joé Dwèt Filé and Moliy each took home multiple awards at the Trinidad-set ceremony. 9/23/2026 Moliy & Ayetian presenting onstage at the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards at the National Academy for the Performing Artist in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, on Sept. 19, 2026. Tizzy Tokyo Lady Lava is the reigning queen of Caribbean Music — according to the results of the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards. The Trinidadian star took home four awards at the ceremony, which graced Trinidad’s National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) on Sept. 19. Lady Lava, who Billboard named its Caribbean Up-And-Comer of the Month for June, took home trophies in three different genres, including female soca artist of the year, zess song of the year (“Bob the Builder”) and chutney soca song of the year (“Cyah Pick,” with Ravi B). Shenseea, who nearly swept last year’s ceremony, dominated the dancehall field this year, winning female dancehall artist of the year and both dancehall song and collaboration of the year for the Billboard Hot 100 hit “Shake It to the Max” (No. 44). This year marked the first time the Caribbean Music Awards were hosted in its namesake region, following a three-year run at the historic Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York. Billboard’s Kyle Denis hosted a red carpet livestream on the ground in Trinidad, catching up with a bevy of stars, including eventual winners Kes and Ayetian, as well as first-time ceremony co-host Nailah Blackman. A soca star in her own right, Blackman split hosting duties with comedian Majah Hype. The show also featured performances by Jah Mason, 450, Freetown Collective, V’ghn, Lil Kerry, Muddy, Mela Caribe, 1t1, Theomaa, Christo and Harmonik. Global broadcast information will be announced at a later date. Trinidadian brother production duo Full Blown took home three awards, including soca song of the year for “The Greatest Bend Over” (with Yung Bredda) and soca video of the year for “Good Spirits.” They’re tied as this year’s second-most awarded act alongside Shenseea and French-Haitian konpa singer Joé Dwèt Filé, who swept the konpa and French-Caribbean fields with his smash hit “4 Kampé.” Several other acts took home multiple awards, including Skillibeng, Kes, V’ghn, Lila Iké, Masicka, Moliy, Ayetian, Silent Addy and Ravi B. Coutain, Billboard’s Caribbean Up-And-Comer of the Month for September, was crowned best new soca artist, while Keznamdi — who took home his first Grammy for best reggae album in February (Blxxd & Fyah) — scored the reggae impact award. In addition, Chronixx’s Exile, which Billboard named the No. 1 Caribbean album of 2025, won reggae album of the year. The Saint Lucia Jazz Festival, hailed as a “must-attend event” by Billboard this spring, won music festival of the year, and global superstars Bad Bunny and Nicki Minaj won Latin Caribbean artist of the year and soca collaboration of the year (“Eskimo,” with Trinidad Killa), respectively. The 2026 Caribbean Music Awards were the focal point of a packed weekend of programming that included industry panels, a welcome reception, and the Stars & Steel Concert and Awards on Sept. 20. Several steelpan pioneers and institutions received special honors, including Dr. Len “Boogsie” Sharpe (Pan Maestro Icon Award), Dr. Bertram “Birch” Kelman (Golden Ear Icon Award) and Pan Trinbago (Legacy Pillar of Pan Award, accepted on behalf of the organization by its first female president). Performers included the Mittco Steel Orchestra, National Philharmonic Orchestra String Quartet, Angela Hunte, Sherwin Gardner, Kempes Ramnarine, Derron Sandy as Anansi, and Juss Lizz & The Meadows. The Caribbean Music Awards recognize artists, producers, and industry professionals who have significantly contributed to the Caribbean music landscape. This year’s nominations list included more than 40 categories spanning a diverse range of genres, including reggae, soca and dancehall. The awards are presented by the Caribbean Elite Group, which also produces Caribbean Elite Magazine – a print and digital publication that highlights Caribbean entertainers, artists, producers, promoters, cuisine, travel, fashion and entrepreneurs. Here’s a complete list of winners in both competitive (fan-voted) and honorary categories. Bouyon Bouyon Artist of the Year: Mr. Ridge Bouyon Song of the Year: “Bouwéy” — 1T1 & Theomaa Caribbean Fusion Caribbean Fusion Artist of the Year: Freetown Collective Chutney Soca Chutney Soca Artist of the Year: Ravi B Chutney Soca Song of the Year: “Cyah Pick” — Lady Lava & Ravi B Dancehall Female Dancehall Artist of the Year: Shenseea Male Dancehall Artist of the Year: Valiant Dancehall Album of the Year: Saint — Prince Swanny Dancehall Best New Artist: Ayetian Dancehall Collaboration of the Year: “Shake It to the Max (FLY) [Remix]” — MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea Dancehall Impact Award: Ayetian Dancehall Performer of the Year: Ding Dong Dancehall Song of the Year: “Shake It to the Max (FLY) [Remix]” — MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea Dancehall Video of the Year: “Rich Sex” — Masicka Dennery Dennery Song of the Year: “Dansa” — Klassik Frescobar Dennery Artist of the Year: Umpa French Caribbean French Caribbean Artist of the Year: Joé Dwèt Filé French Caribbean Song of the Year: “Ouba” — 1T1 & Theomaa International DJ Female International DJ of the Year: DJ Ana Male International DJ of the Year: Ricky Platinum Jab Jab Artist of the Year: V’ghn Jab Song of the Year: “Jab Decisions” — V’ghn & Terra D Governor Konpa Konpa Artist of the Year: Joé Dwèt Filé Konpa Song of the Year: “4 Kampé” — Joé Dwèt Filé Latin Caribbean Latin Caribbean Artist of the Year: Bad Bunny Reggae Female Reggae Artist of the Year: Lila Iké Male Reggae Artist of the Year: Buju Banton Reggae Album of the Year: Exile — Chronixx Reggae Best New Artist: Cholita Reggae Collaboration of the Year: “Romantic” — Lila Iké feat. Masicka Reggae Impact Award: Keznamdi Reggae Song of the Year: “BIG 45” — Protoje Soca 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: “Eskimo” — Trinidad Killa & Nicki Minaj Soca Impact Award: Full Blown Soca Performer of the Year: Kes Soca Song of the Year: “The Greatest Bend Over” — Yung Bredda & Full Blown Soca Video of the Year: “Good Spirits” — Full Blown Zess Zess Artist of the Year: Lady Lava Zess Song of the Year: “Bob the Builder” — Lady Lava Special Honors Global Ambassador Honor: Shyne Elite Konpa Honor: Alan Cavé Elite Calypso Honor: Calypso Rose Lifetime Achievement Award: Patra Music Cruise Music Cruise of the Year: UberSoca Cruise Music Event Music Event of the Year: Reggae Fest: “Freedom Street” — CJ Milan Music Festival Music Festival of the Year: Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival People’s Choice People’s Choice Award: Alkaline Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox Sign Up