Caribbean Music Awards Move to Trinidad for the First Time on September 19
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO · CULTURE
Key Facts
- —The date Saturday 19 September 2026, with the ceremony listed from 7pm.
- —The venue The National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
- —The move The first three editions were held at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York.
- —The honourees Shyne, Calypso Rose, Patra and Alan Cavé receive special honours.
- —The hosts Soca singer Nailah Blackman and comedian Majah Hype.
- —The catch No ticket prices are published. Ceremony tickets showed as unavailable on 12 September.
After three years in a Brooklyn theatre, the region’s biggest music prize is being handed out in the Caribbean itself for the first time.
The Caribbean Music Awards leave New York this month. The fourth edition runs on Saturday 19 September in Port of Spain.
The venue is the National Academy for the Performing Arts, known locally as NAPA. The first three editions were all held at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn.
Trinidad and Tobago is the host country this year. The move puts the show in the region whose music it awards.
Who Is Being Honoured
Four artists receive special honours. Shyne takes the Global Ambassador Honor.
Shyne is a Belizean-American rapper who serves as Belize’s music and goodwill ambassador. He is also a former leader of the country’s opposition.
Calypso Rose receives the Elite Calypso Honor. The Tobago-born singer is 86 and has been recording since the 1960s.
Patra takes the Lifetime Achievement Honor. The Jamaican dancehall singer had international hits in the early 1990s.
Alan Cavé receives the Elite Konpa Honor. The Haitian-American singer fronted the band Zin and remains a fixture of Haitian popular music.
The Nominees and the Public Vote
Organisers published the nominee list on 10 June. More than 250 names were announced across the categories.
Lady Lava leads with nine nominations. Machel Montano, V’ghn and Ayetian have seven each.
Shenseea and Skillibeng have six apiece. Masicka, Popcaan, Valiant, Vybz Kartel and Yung Bredda have five.
Public voting ran from 10 June to 10 August. Winners are revealed at the ceremony.
Performers and Hosts
Nailah Blackman and Majah Hype co-host the show. For Majah Hype it is a fourth consecutive year in the role.
Announced performers include V’ghn, Freetown Collective, 450, Jah Mason, 1T1 and Theomaa. Organisers describe the slot for 450 as his first appearance at the event.
V’ghn is Grenadian and Freetown Collective are Trinidadian. The bill mixes soca, dancehall, konpa and reggae.
The Weekend Around It
The ceremony sits inside a three-day programme running from 18 to 20 September. Friday opens with a welcome reception.
Saturday carries the red carpet and the ceremony, listed from 7pm to 11pm. An after-party follows.
Sunday closes with a steel pan concert that also carries awards. Not everything is handed out on Saturday night.
Tickets and Coverage
Two ticketing platforms are involved. TicketGateway carries the ceremony and Eventbrite carries the three-day package.
No prices have been published by the organisers. Ceremony tickets showed as unavailable on TicketGateway on 12 September.
Billboard has been announced as the show’s official global media partner. No television or streaming broadcaster has been confirmed.
The event is produced by Caribbean Elite Group, the company behind Caribbean Elite Magazine. It has staged the show since 2023.
If You Are Going
Port of Spain in September is quiet compared with carnival season. Hotel rooms are easier to find than in February.
NAPA sits beside the Queen’s Park Savannah in the centre of the city. Most downtown hotels are a short taxi ride away.
Taxis in Port of Spain are shared route taxis and private hires. Agree the fare before you get in.
Trinidad and Tobago uses its own dollar and cards are widely accepted in the capital. Small vendors still prefer cash.
September falls inside the wet season and the Atlantic hurricane season. Rain tends to come in short heavy bursts rather than all day.
For readers elsewhere in the region, this is the first year the show can be attended without flying to New York. That alone changes who can be in the room.
More: Latin America news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where are the Caribbean Music Awards 2026?
Saturday 19 September 2026 at the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, listed from 7pm.
Why has the show moved?
The first three editions were held at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York. The 2026 edition is the first staged in the Caribbean.
Who is being honoured?
Shyne receives the Global Ambassador Honor, Calypso Rose the Elite Calypso Honor, Patra the Lifetime Achievement Honor and Alan Cavé the Elite Konpa Honor.
How much are tickets?
No prices have been published. The ceremony is listed on TicketGateway and the three-day package on Eventbrite.
Will it be televised?
No broadcaster has been confirmed. Billboard has been announced as the official global media partner.
Sources: Billboard, BroadwayWorld, Caribbean National Weekly, DancehallMag, News Americas, SKNVibes, Soca News, TicketGateway.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief