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

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