Caribbean Music Awards Premiere Globally

Caribbean music is preparing for another global spotlight as the fourth annual Caribbean Music Awards heads to international audiences on Sunday, October 25th, 2026, following a landmark ceremony in Trinidad and Tobago that celebrated the region’s musical diversity, cultural heritage and growing worldwide influence.

Presented by Trinidad Tourism Limited, the ceremony will premiere at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the official Caribbean Music Awards YouTube channel. Viewers will also be able to stream the show through the TRACE+ app, while television broadcasts are confirmed across eight Caribbean markets.

Photographer: SHOTSBY_TIZZYTOKYO

The premiere follows weeks of continued international media attention surrounding the September 19th, 2026 awards ceremony. Red-carpet appearances, performances and celebrity moments have kept the event circulating across social media, television and traditional news outlets, extending its reach well beyond awards night.

For audiences who missed the live celebration, the broadcast offers an opportunity to experience the performances, tributes and cultural moments that brought Caribbean music to the forefront.

Held at the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port of Spain, the 2026 ceremony marked a significant shift for the awards, bringing the event to Trinidad and Tobago for the first time after three years in Brooklyn, New York.

Photographer: SHOTSBY_TIZZYTOKYO

Guided by the theme “Sounds of the Caribbean,” while celebrating “Voices of the Caribbean,” the ceremony united artists, industry leaders, cultural stakeholders and international media in a showcase of the region’s creative range.

Hosted by Majah Hype and Nailah Blackman, the programme featured performances by: 1T1, Theomaa, FreeTown Collective, Mela Caribe, Christo, Lil Kerry, V’ghn, 450, Jah Mason, Harmonik and Muddy, among others.

The evening also honoured influential figures whose contributions have helped shape Caribbean music and culture. Patra received the Lifetime Achievement Award, Calypso Rose was presented with the Elite Calypso Award, Alan Cavé received the Elite Konpa Award, and Shyne was named Global Ambassador.

Together, the performances and recognitions reflected a musical landscape shaped by generations of artists, distinct traditions and a shared cultural identity.

From Soca, Dancehall and Reggae to Bouyon, Konpa, Chutney Soca, Calypso, Dennery and French Caribbean music, the awards spotlight a region whose sounds are diverse yet interconnected.

That diversity matters beyond entertainment. Caribbean music carries the stories, histories and identities of communities whose cultural influence extends across borders and generations. As artists reach new audiences internationally, platforms that celebrate their contributions also create opportunities to strengthen the region’s visibility.

The global broadcast expands that opportunity, connecting Caribbean audiences at home and throughout the diaspora with a celebration of the music that continues to shape the region’s cultural footprint.

Photographer: SHOTSBY_TIZZYTOKYO

The premiere also follows the inaugural Elite Weekend Experience in Trinidad and Tobago, a three-day gathering featuring industry conversations, a welcome reception, international media engagement and a Sunday celebration of Caribbean heritage and steelpan.

Together, the weekend’s events created space for artists, media professionals and industry stakeholders to connect around Caribbean music’s future.

The Caribbean Music Awards premiere begins Sunday, October 25th, at 9:00 p.m. EST on the official YouTube channel. International viewers can also access the ceremony through the TRACE+ app and select TRACE television channels.

Confirmed Caribbean broadcasters include: CNC3 in Trinidad and Tobago; CVM in Jamaica; CBC/TV8 in Barbados; TeleCuraçao; MBC TV/Real FM in Saint Lucia; SVG TV in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; TV15 in Sint Maarten; and Channel 105 via Flow TV in Dominica.

Viewers are encouraged to check local listings for broadcast details.

As the ceremony reaches audiences across multiple territories, its message extends beyond a single night of awards: Caribbean music is shaping the global cultural conversation, and Toronto, we are part of it.