Snubs & Surprises at 2026 Caribbean Music Awards: Is ‘Dansa’ Really a Dennery Segment Song?
From Lady Lava's domination to head-scratching decisions in newer genre categories, here are the biggest snubs and surprises from the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards.
The fourth annual Caribbean Music Awards took place in Trinidad & Tobago on September 18, marking the first time the ceremony was held in its namesake region. Co-hosted by Majah Hype and soca star Nailah Blackman, the event celebrated the biggest and brightest stars across contemporary Caribbean music. This year's ceremony saw the addition of several new categories, including fast-rising genres like bouyon, jab, and the Dennery segment.
Billboard's Kyle Denis hosted a red carpet livestream, catching up with winners Kes and Ayetian, as well as the night's biggest victor, Lady Lava, who claimed four awards, including female soca artist of the year and zess song of the year ("Bob the Builder"). Other notable winners included Full Blown, a Trinidadian brother production duo, who secured three awards, tying them as the second-most awarded act alongside pop-dancehall artist Shenseea and French-Haitian konpa singer Joé Dwèt Filé, who swept the konpa and French-Caribbean categories with his hit "4 Kampé."
Several Caribbean music legends were also honored, including reggae and dancehall queen Patra, who earned the Lifetime Achievement Award; Calypso Rose, who received the Elite Calypso Award; Alan Cavé, who scored the Elite Konpa Award; and Shyne, who took home the Global Ambassador Award.
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