The Caribbean Music Awards are back!
Announced Wednesday afternoon (June 10), Trinidadian cross-genre powerhouse Lady Lava leads the nominations for the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards, with nine nods across seven categories. Fast-rising Jamaican dancehall star Ayetian, King of Soca Machel Montano and Grenadian soca sensation V’ghn follow with seven nominations each.
Last year’s big winner, Shenseea, adds six more nominations to her career total, thanks, in large part, to Moliy’s “Shake It to the Max.” A crossover hit that reached No. 44 on the Billboard Hot 100, “Shake It to the Max,” which also features Disco Neil, Silent Addy and Skillibeng, reigns as this year’s most-nominated song, with recognition in three separate categories. It’s a sweet moment of vindication for a track that was deemed ineligible to compete at February’s Grammy Awards — a decision that sent shockwaves through the global music industry and found gamma. CEO Larry Jackson deeming the decision as “devoid of any common sense.”
The Caribbean Music Awards recognizes artists, producers and industry professionals who have significantly contributed to the Caribbean music landscape. This year’s nominations list includes more than 250 nominees across 40-plus categories spanning a diverse range of genres including reggae, soca, dancehall, calypso, R&B and gospel.
