The Caribbean Music Awards (CMA) will be staged in Trinidad and Tobago for the first time this year as organisers launch the inaugural Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience from 18 – 20 September 2026.
The fourth annual awards ceremony takes place on Saturday 19 September at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain under the theme Sounds of the Caribbean.
Activities scheduled for the weekend include a welcome reception, pre-show events, the awards ceremony, an official after-party and a steelpan concert presented by Stars and Steel. Organisers say additional performers and programming will be announced in the coming weeks.
The move to Trinidad and Tobago marks a new phase for the CMA, which launched in 2023 and has grown into one of the region’s leading music awards platforms. The organisation plans to rotate the event among Caribbean destinations in future years, highlighting local culture while supporting tourism and the creative industries.
Hosting this year’s ceremony will be Trinidadian artist Nailah Blackman and comedian Majah Hype, who returns for a fourth consecutive year. Blackman has previously attended, performed at and won awards at the CMA.
More than 250 nominees across over 40 categories are in contention for the 2026 awards, which recognise achievements in soca, dancehall, reggae, chutney soca, kompa, gospel and other Caribbean genres.
