Caribbean Music Awards Moves to Trinidad & Tobago for Fourth Annual Ceremony This September

After three years at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, the Caribbean Music Awards (CMA) is taking the celebration to its roots. The Fourth Annual Caribbean Music Awards will take place Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. It marks the first time the ceremony has been held in the Caribbean region.

Along with the venue change, the CMA is launching the inaugural Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience, a multi-day event running September 18 through 20. Programming includes a Welcome Reception, pre-show events, the awards ceremony, an official after-party, and a steelpan concert presented by Stars and Steel. Additional performers, presenters, and event packages are still to be announced.

Hosting duties this year go to Trinidadian artist Nailah Blackman and comedian and entertainer Majah Hype. Majah Hype returns for his fourth consecutive year in the role.

"Four years hosting the Caribbean Music Awards? Mi feel like dem haffi give me my own seat at this point!" Majah Hype said. "To see it expand from Brooklyn's Kings Theatre to Trinidad and Tobago is something special. Caribbean culture is powerful, the talent is endless, and mi ready fi celebrate everybody who continues to carry our music and our culture to the world."

Blackman, who has previously attended, performed, and been nominated and recognized at the CMA, steps into the host chair for the first time.

"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," Blackman said. "To do it in Trinidad, surrounded by our people and our culture, makes this moment even more meaningful."

The CMA has recognized artists across genres including Dancehall, Reggae, Soca, Konpa, Chutney Soca, Zess, Dennery, and Gospel since launching in 2023. According to the release, the organization announced more than 250 nominees across more than 40 categories earlier this year. The release also states the 2025 ceremony marked a BET broadcast debut for the awards.

The organization says the plan going forward is to rotate the Elite Weekend Experience to a different Caribbean nation each year, partnering with tourism boards and host destinations along the way. For independent artists working within Caribbean genres or the diaspora, the expansion to a region-based model could open up new performance, networking, and visibility opportunities beyond the New York market.

Presale tickets go on sale July 31 at caribmusicawards.com. Follow the awards at @CaribMusicAwards across social platforms.