Calypso Rose Receives Standing Ovation at 2026 Caribbean Music Awards: 6 Best Moments
The fourth Caribbean Music Awards were held at the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port of Spain on 18 September, bringing regional artists together to celebrate Caribbean music. Trinidad and Tobago hosted the ceremony for the first time and had a strong showing, while new categories for genres including Dennery segment, jab and bouyon reflected the region’s musical range.
The event featured performances by established and newer artists, and honours for several influential figures: Patra received the Lifetime Achievement Award, Calypso Rose the Elite Calypso Award, Alan Cavé the Elite Konpa Award and Shyne the Global Ambassador Award. Yung Bredda won soca song of the year for “Greatest Bend Over”, while MOLIY and her collaborators won dancehall song and collaboration of the year for “Shake It to the Max”. The official broadcast premiered on YouTube on 25 October.
In short
- Trinidad and Tobago hosted the awards for the first time.
- Calypso Rose received the Elite Calypso Award.
- MOLIY’s “Shake It to the Max” won two awards.
Explained simply
The Caribbean Music Awards celebrate music from across the region, including styles such as calypso, soca, konpa and dancehall. Their categories recognise both individual artists and recorded songs or collaborations.
Calypso Rose is a Trinidad and Tobago singer known for her influence on calypso, a style rooted in the country’s musical traditions. The Elite Calypso Award places her among the figures honoured for their contribution to that genre.
The awards bring together artists from different Caribbean countries and musical traditions. Their range of categories offers a way to recognise both established styles and newer or locally popular genres.