Caribbean Music Awards broadcast premiere showcases Lady Lava sweep and Patra honour
The fourth annual ceremony, held for the first time in Trinidad and Tobago, was broadcast across the region and online on October 25.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad. The Caribbean Music Awards (CMA) said on Monday, October 26, that its 2026 ceremony reached audiences across the Caribbean and beyond with its global broadcast premiere on Sunday, October 25.
The fourth annual ceremony, held for the first time in Trinidad and Tobago, brought together about 100 artists, along with media, industry professionals and vendors. It took place on Saturday, September 19, at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain, as the centrepiece of the CMA's Elite Weekend Experience under the theme "Sounds of the Caribbean".
The show premiered on the CMA YouTube channel, with distribution through TRACE+ and regional broadcasters including CNC3 in Trinidad and Tobago, CVM in Jamaica, CBC/TV8 in Barbados, MBC TV/Real FM in St Lucia, SVG TV in St Vincent and the Grenadines and Channel 105 via Flow TV in Dominica. Presented by Trinidad Tourism Limited, it is available on YouTube for a limited time.
Lady Lava's four awards
Trinidad and Tobago's Lady Lava won four awards: Female Soca Artist of the Year, Zess Artist of the Year, and Chutney Soca Song of the Year for "Cyah Pick" with Ravi B, with a fourth received outside the show.
Moliy became the first Ghanaian artist to win a Caribbean Music Award, taking Dancehall Song of the Year for "Shake It to the Max (FLY) [Remix]" with Silent Addy, Skillibeng and Shenseea, and Dancehall Collaboration of the Year outside the show.
"I feel like I belong here, I feel like I might stay a while," she said.
Other winners
Kes was named Male Soca Artist of the Year, and Yung Bredda took Soca Song of the Year for "The Greatest Bend Over". Freetown Collective won Caribbean Fusion Artist of the Year, and Mr. Ridge won Bouyon Artist of the Year for the third time.
Ayetian was named Dancehall Best New Artist, Full Blown received the Soca Impact Award, and V'ghn and Terra D Governor won Jab Song of the Year. Haitian konpa singer Alan Cavé received the Elite Konpa Honor.
"This is not a win for Trinidad and Tobago or Calypso or Soca music, this is a win for the entire Caribbean," said Freetown Collective's Lou Lyons.
Honours for Patra, Calypso Rose and Shyne
Jamaican dancehall icon Patra received the Lifetime Achievement Honor and closed the show with a medley of hits including "Queen of the Pack" and "Romantic Call". "As we see, it's one Caribbean," she said.
Legendary calypsonian Calypso Rose received an honorary recognition in one of the evening's most moving moments, and Shyne, recipient of the Global Ambassador Honor, dedicated it to the people of Belize.
"The Caribbean has always been a part of hip-hop," Shyne said.
