The Caribbean Music Awards will move its annual ceremony from Brooklyn to Trinidad & Tobago for the 2026 edition. The event is scheduled for a three-day weekend in September, featuring a main awards show in Port of Spain.
The transition from Brooklyn's Kings Theatre to Port of Spain
The Caribbean Music Awards is executing a major strategic pivot by relocating its annnual ceremony from New York to Trinidad & Tobago.. For the past three years, the event has functioned as a central hub for the diaspora at Brooklyn's Kings Theatre, but the 2026 edition will instead embrace a "homecoming" model. According to the report, the fourth annual ceremony will take place from September 18-20, centering on a main event at the National Academy for the Performing Arts.
This shift toward a multi-day "Elite Weekend Experience" suggests an ambition to move beyond a single awards night and toward a full-scale cultural festival. By moving the festivities to the Caribbean, the Caribbean Elite Group is positioning the awards closer to the geographic source of the music's rhythmic and cultural heritage.
Lady Lava and Machel Montano lead a field of 250 nominees
The 2026 nominations highlight a massive breadth of talent,with over 250 artists vying for recognition across more than 40 categories. Soca sensation Lady Lava has emerged as the frontrunner, securing nine nominations in seven different categories, including Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for her track "Bacchanal Queen." Machel Montano also holds a significant presence with seven nominations, including a nod for his album Forever.
The hosting duties add another layer of cultural weight to the ceremony. Nailah Blackman, the granddaughter of soca inventor Lord Shorty, will co-host alongside comedian Majah Hype. Blackman has noted that hosting in Trinidad is a deeply meaningful moment for her and the broader culture, emphasizing the symbolic importance of the relocation.
New recognition for Dennery, Zess, and Konpa genres
Organizers are expanding the scope of the awards to include specific categories that reflect the modern diversity of Caribbean sounds. As reported, the ceremony will now feature dedicated awards for Dennery, Zess, Konpa, Chutney Soca, Jab, and French Caribbean music. This move acknowledges that the Caribbean musical landscape is far more complex than just the traditional pillars of calypso and reggae.
This expansion is designed to provide a platform for emerging sub-genres that have gained massive popularity in recent years.. By including categories like Zess and Jab, the Caribbean Music Awards is ensuring that the evolving tastes of both local and international audiences are represented on the big stage.
Uncertainties regarding the full 'Elite Weekend Experience' lineup
While the core details of the September 2026 event are set, several specifics regarding the broader festival remain unverified. The report mentions an immersive afterparty and a special steelpan showcase by Stars and Steel, but it does not specify the veues or the full roster of performers for these side events.
Furthermore, the transition from a New York-based event to a multi-day Caribbean festival raises questions about international accessibility. It remains to be seen how the Caribbean Elite Group will manage the logistical challenges of hosting a global diaspora in Trinidad, and whether the expanded format will include more interactive elements for fans traveling from abroad.
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