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    The Caribbean Music Awards (CMA) will make history this September as the global celebration of Caribbean music moves to Trinidad & Tobago for the first time at its fourth annual ceremony, which will also launch the first-ever Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience.

    The multi-day destination celebration will take place Sept. 18-20, with the awards ceremony scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19 at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain. This is the first time that CMA will be held in the Caribbean after three successful years at Brooklyn’s iconic Kings Theatre.

    This year’s celebration will follow the theme “Sounds of the Caribbean,” honoring the music, traditions, and cultural influences that have shaped generations and carried Caribbean sounds to audiences around the world.

    The Elite Weekend Experience will expand the Caribbean Music Awards beyond a single-night event, creating a full cultural experience featuring artists, fans, industry professionals, media, creators, and community leaders from across the Caribbean and the global diaspora.

    The weekend lineup will include an exclusive welcome reception, pre-show events, the fourth annual Caribbean Music Awards ceremony, an official after-party, a special steelpan concert presented by Stars and Steel, and additional programming highlighting Trinidad & Tobago’s cultural influence.

    The move represents a major evolution for the CMA, while recognizing the importance of its New York roots. Founded in Brooklyn, the awards quickly became a powerful platform for celebrating Caribbean excellence and connecting the diaspora through music.

    For three years, the Kings Theatre served as the home of a growing movement that brought together artists from across the Caribbean and created a global stage for genres including Dancehall, Reggae, Soca, Konpa, Chutney Soca, Zess, Dennery, and Gospel.

    [caption id="attachment_84663" align="aligncenter" width="700"]From Brooklyn to Trinidad & Tobago, the Caribbean Music Awards is a historic global celebration. From Brooklyn to Trinidad & Tobago, the Caribbean Music Awards is a historic global celebration.Caribbean Music Awards[/caption]

    Now, organizers are taking the celebration directly to the Caribbean with a long-term vision of highlighting different Caribbean nations in future years. The rotating destination model aims to showcase the region’s diverse cultures, support tourism, create economic opportunities, and strengthen the Caribbean’s creative economy.

    Leading the 2026 celebration will be Trinidadian soca star Nailah Blackman and comedian, entertainer and cultural personality Majah Hype, who will serve as hosts for the highly anticipated ceremony.

    For Majah Hype, the event marks his fourth consecutive year as host and a front-row seat to the awards’ growth from a Brooklyn showcase into an international celebration.

    “Being part of this journey from day one has been a blessing,” Majah Hype said. “I’ve watched this celebration grow, seen the incredible talent come through, and witnessed how much this moment means to our people. To see it expand from Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre to Trinidad & Tobago is something special.”

    Blackman said hosting the ceremony in her home country represents a meaningful milestone in her own career.

    “I’ve experienced this celebration as a fan, as a performer, as a nominee, and as a winner, and now being able to step into the role of host is truly an honor,” she said. “To do it in Trinidad, surrounded by our people and our culture, makes this moment even more meaningful.”

    Since launching in 2023, the Caribbean Music Awards has grown into one of the premier platforms recognizing Caribbean musical achievement. Last year’s ceremony reached a historic milestone with its BET broadcast debut, expanding the awards’ international reach.

    With the announcement of more than 250 nominees across more than 40 categories, excitement continues to build for what organizers expect to be the biggest Caribbean Music Awards celebration yet.

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