Lady Lava Leads Caribbean Music Awards 2026 With 9 Nominations

NEW YORK, NY — June 10, 2026 — The Caribbean Music Awards (CMA) has officially announced its 2026 nominees and leading the nominations is Trinidad and Tobago’s Lady Lava, who tops the field with nine nominations. Her recognition include:

1. People’s Choice
2. Soca Performer of the Year
3. Female Soca Artist of the Year
4. Zess Artist of the Year
5. Soca Impact Award
6. Chutney Soca Song of the Year – “Cya Pick” (with Ravi B)
7. Chutney Soca Song of the Year – “Pepper Vine” (with Machel Montano, DJ Private Ryan, Drupatee & Jus Now)
8. Zess Song of the Year – “Bob the Builder”
9. Zess Song of the Year – “Send It Up” (with Lola Doll & Shawn Storm)

Ayetian, Machel Montano, and V’ghn, each earns seven nominations. Dancehall stars Shenseea and Skillibeng secured six nominations apiece, while Masicka, Popcaan, Valiant, Vybz Kartel, and Yung Bredda each earned five nods.

One of the year’s biggest stories is the dominance of collaborative records. The breakout hit “Shake It to the Max (Fly) Remix” by Moliy, Skillibeng, Shenseea, and Silent Addy emerged as the most nominated song of the year with three nominations, cementing its place as one of the Caribbean’s defining records of 2026.

With more than 250 nominees competing across over 40 categories The Caribbean Music Awards continues expanding its reach by introducing several new categories, including 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 reflect the Awards’ commitment to recognizing the full spectrum of Caribbean musical expression.

Genres represented this year include Dancehall, Reggae, Soca, Konpa, Bouyon, Chutney Soca, Dennery, Zess, French Caribbean music, Latin Caribbean music, and Caribbean Fusion, further showcasing the region’s musical diversity and international appeal.

Public voting officially opened on June 10, 2026, and will remain open until August 10, 2026, giving fans around the world the opportunity to support their favorite artists, songs, DJs, festivals, and cultural contributors.

Voting is now open on Caribbeanmusicawards.com and the awards is set for this fall.

People’s Choice

• Alkaline
• Dexta Daps
• Kes
• Lady Lava
• Shenseea
• Vybz Kartel
• Voice
• Yung Bredda

French Caribbean Artist of the Year

• Aya Nakamura
• Bamby
• Blaiz Fayah
• Joé Dwèt Filé
• Kalash
• Maureen
• Meryl
• Mikado

French Caribbean Song of the Year

• “Baddies” — Aya Nakamura
• “Batche a Boy” — Kryssy
• “Coco Chanel” — Meryl & EVA
• “Kaddryo” — Kalash & Sleazy Stereo
• “Menti” — N’Ken & Mikado
• “Ouba” — 1T1 & Theomaa
• “Shotta Confessions” — Meryl & N’Ken
• “Up and Down” — Kryssy & Foxii

Reggae Album of the Year

• BLXXD & FYAH — Keznamdi
• Exile — Chronixx
• Feeling Irie — Glen Washington
• God and I — I-Octane
• Jamdown — Sanchez
• No Place Like Home — Jesse Royal
• Treasure Self Love — Lila Iké
• Weekend Dude — Duane Stephenson

Reggae Song of the Year

• “Big 45” — Protoje
• “Good Music” — Anthony B
• “Jamaica Strong” — Aiesha
• “So High” — Jesse Royal & Agent Sasco
• “The Door” — Zion Marley
• “Til A Mawnin” — Shaggy & Sting
• “Wife and Sweetheart” — Christopher Martin

Male Reggae Artist of the Year

• Beres Hammond
• Buju Banton
• Christopher Martin
• Chronixx
• Damian Marley
• Romain Virgo
• Shaggy
• Tarrus Riley

Female Reggae Artist of the Year

• Alaine
• Etana
• Koffee
• Lila Iké
• Queen Omega
• Sevana
• Tanya Stephens
• Tessanne Chin

Reggae Impact Award

• Aiesha
• Jah9
• Joby Jay
• Keznamdi
• Ras-I
• Royal Blu
• Sevana

Reggae Best New Artist

• Cholita
• Khalia
• Nesta
• Rani Rastaciti
• Rik Jam
• Yeza
• Zagga

Reggae Collaboration of the Year

• Etana, Beenie Man & Kemar McGregor — “Guide Over Us”
• Friends Only, Jesse Royal, MediSun & Beres Hammond — “Born in Jamaica”
• Jesse Royal & Agent Sasco — “So High”
• Lila Iké & Masicka — “Romantic”
• Lila Iké & Protoje — “All Over the World”
• Shaggy & Sting — “Til A Mawnin”
• Tyla & Sean Paul — “Push 2 Start (Remix)”

Dancehall Album of the Year

• Her Name Is Love — Masicka
• Nothing Without God — Popcaan
• Pieces of Me — 450
• Prove Them Wrong — Valiant
• Saint — Prince Swanny
• The Impact — Armanii
• Viking — Vybz Kartel
• From Ding Dong to World Ding — Ding Dong

Dancehall Song of the Year

• “BBB (Snapchat)” — Armanii
• “G.A.D” — Jada Kingdom
• “God Is the Greatest” — Vybz Kartel
• “Passenger Princess” — Valiant
• “Rich Sex” — Masicka
• “Shake It to the Max (Remix)” — Moliy, Skillibeng & Shenseea
• “Wah Yo Deh Pon” — Ayetian & Govana
• “WYFL” — Skippa

Female Dancehall Artist of the Year

• Jada Kingdom
• Shaneil Muir
• Shenseea
• Spice
• Stalk Ashley
• Vanessa Bling

Dancehall Performer of the Year

• Dexta Daps
• Ding Dong
• Skillibeng
• Popcaan
• Shenseea
• Skeng
• Spice
• Valiant

Dancehall Impact Award

• Ayetian
• D’yani
• Kman 6ixx
• Malie Donn
• Nigy Boy
• Rajah Wild
• Skippa
• Stalk Ashley

Dancehall Collaboration of the Year

• Ayetian & Govana — “Wah Yo Deh Pon”
• Ayetian & Skillibeng — “Tip (Remix)”
• Ding Dong & Vanessa Bling — “Glory”
• Moliy, Shenseea & Skillibeng — “Shake It to the Max (Fly) Remix”
• Popcaan & Chronic Law — “Kick It Wid Myself”
• Skillibeng & Vybz Kartel — “New Gear”

Dancehall Best New Artist

• Ayetian
• Jamal
• Khandi Brawling
• Likkle Addi
• Najeeriii
• Nhance
• Skippa

Dancehall Video of the Year

• “Shake It to the Max (Fly) Remix”
• “Pretty Crew”
• “Passenger Princess”
• “Pretty Rockstar”
• “Rich Sex”
• “Waste Har Time”

Male Dancehall Artist of the Year

• 450
• Alkaline
• Armanii
• Ayetian
• Masicka
• Popcaan
• Valiant
• Vybz Kartel

Male Soca Artist of the Year

• Bunji Garlin
• Full Blown
• Kes
• Machel Montano
• Mical Teja
• V’ghn
• Voice
• Yung Bredda

Soca Song of the Year

• “Carry It”
• “Cocoa Tea”
• “Dansa”
• “Good Spirits”
• “Jab Decisions”
• “Pardy”
• “Take Me Home”
• “The Greatest Bend Over”

Soca Performer of the Year

• Kes
• Lady Lava
• Machel Montano
• Mr. Killa
• Nadia Batson
• Patrice Roberts
• V’ghn
• Voice

Female Soca Artist of the Year

• Anika Berry
• Fay-Ann Lyons
• Lady Lava
• Nadia Batson
• Nailah Blackman
• Patrice Roberts
• Faith Callender

Konpa Artist of the Year

• Harmonik
• Joé Dwèt Filé
• Kai
• T-Vice
• Vayb
• Rutshelle

Bouyon Artist of the Year

• 1T1
• BRG Hollywood
• Dirty Dawg Pudaz
• Asa Bantan
• Mr. Ridge
• Reo
• Shelly & Signal Band
• Trilla G

Dennery Artist of the Year

• Blackboy
• Deejay ASAP
• Dezral
• Jardel
• Mighty
• Nerdy
• Umpa

Zess Artist of the Year

• Father Phillis
• Lady Lava
• Lola Doll
• Nelly Cottoy
• Sackie
• Tempa
• Trinidad Killa
• Yung Bredda

Jab Artist of the Year

• Capital Jab
• Dred Lion
• Jab King
• Khalifah
• Lil Kerry
• Muddy
• Tallpree
• V’ghn

Caribbean Fusion Artist of the Year

• ChillBill
• Freetown Collective
• Jimmy October
• Mickael Marabou
• Monéa
• Naïka
• Skip Marley
• Umpa

Latin Caribbean Artist of the Year

• Bad Bunny
• El Alfa
• Jey One
• Kruziano
• La Pana
• Prince Royce
• Romeo Santos
• Shakira

Female International DJ of the Year

• DJ Ana
• DJ Bambii
• DJ Charlotte
• DJ Lady Drea
• DJ Nikki Z
• DJ Nunu
• DJ One Gyal Army
• DJ Primadonna
• DJ Tash
• DJ Vybz Empress

Male International DJ of the Year

• Dee Jay Punz & Selectah Renzo
• DJ Avalanche
• DJ Kevin Crown
• DJ Puffy
• DJ Osocity
• DJ Ovadose
• DJ Private Ryan
• DJ Ricky Platinum
• DJ Stakz
• DJ Travis

Music Festival of the Year

• Barbados Reggae Weekend
• Dream Weekend
• Reggae Land
• Reggae Sumfest
• Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival
• SANDZ Caribbean Music Festival
• St. Kitts Music Festival

Music Event of the Year

• Artform
• Bayo
• Brunch and Soca
• I Am Woman
• Reggae Fest: The Return of Bounty Killer
• Reggae Fest: Vybz Kartel at Barclays Center
• Rise & Toast
• Soca Brainwash
• Stink & Dutty

Music Cruise of the Year

• Epic Carnival Cruise
• Feteopia Cruise
• JamRock Cruise
• Love & Harmony Cruise
• UberSoca Cruise

Chutney Soca Artist of the Year

• Drupatee
• Ki and The Band
• Rasika Dindial
• Ravi B
• Raymond Ramnarine
• Tony Cuttz
• Vanita Willie
• Vicadi Singh