The Caribbean Music Awards are an annual awards ceremony presented by the Caribbean Elite group. Between 2023 and 2025, they were held at the Kings Theater in Brooklyn, New York. In 2026, they were held at the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Trinidad and Tobago. The ceremony recognizes artists from a range of Caribbean music genres.
History A Caribbean Music Awards show was held throughout the 1990s, primarily in the Apollo Theater in Harlem. By 1999, the show had ended.
A new Caribbean Music Awards show was held for the first time on August 31, 2023, at the Kings Theater, in Brooklyn, New York. Co-founded by Dane Taylor, Monique Blake, and Prince Forde, it is produced by the Caribbean Elite Group. The awards seek to showcase the full spectrum of Caribbean music, including music that is not typically recognized in mainstream music awards ceremonies. Blake stated: "Usually, our artists have to squeeze into one category. We wanted to help change that." Twenty six categories were awarded, and the ceremony was live streamed on YouTube. After the ceremony, chutney soca artists Ravi B and KI Persad called for the organizers to recognize their genre in a future ceremony. The following year, the event awarded more than 40 categories, adding new categories to recognize genres like chutney soca and bouyon.
In 2025, Patrice Roberts won Female Soca Artist of the Year for the third year in a row. A new category for Zess Steam Artist of the Year was created and awarded to Lady Lava. For the first time, the ceremony was broadcast on TV, two weeks afterwards on BET. A week after the ceremony, the organizers told Kranium he was mistakenly awarded Caribbean R&B Artist of the Year and that the award actually belonged to Dexta Daps. In a social media post, he threw away the trophy and criticized the organizers.
From 2023 to 2025, the awards show was held at the Kings Theater, in Flatbush, a Brooklyn neighborhood with a significant Caribbean population. It occurred a few days before the West Indian Day Parade. In 2026, they were held at the National Academy for Performing Arts in Trinidad and Tobago. At least 40 categories are awarded, including a Lifetime Achievement Award and awards recognizing artists in genres such as reggae, calypso, soca, konpa, zouk, and dancehall. According to their website, awards are determined in a multi-stage process that includes public voting, industry data, and an advisory board.
Ceremonies DateLifetime achievementSelected awardsHost(s)VenueRef 31 August 2023Machel MontanoPeople's Choice: Kes Male soca artist: Machel Montano Male Reggae Artist: Beres Hammond Humanitarian award: Buju Banton Dancehall/reggae collaboration: "Likkle Miss" by Skeng and Nikki Minaj Wyclef Jean Kings Theater 29 August 2024Marcia GriffithsMale Soca Artist: Skinny Fabulous Female Soca Artist: Patrice Roberts Producer award: Di Genius Dancehall performer: Dexta Daps Legacy: Cedella Marley Chutney soca: Ravi B Spice and Majah Hype Kings Theater 28 August 2025Bounty KillerMost awards: Shenseea Female Soca Artist: Patrice Roberts Zess Steam Artist: Lady Lava Elite icon: Busta Rhymes Humanitarian: Sizzla Female reggae artist: Lila Iké Majah Hype Kings Theater 19 September 2026 Nailah Blackman and Majah Hype National Academy for the Performing Arts References