Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival celebrations have witnessed the crowning of an undisputed musical monarch. Soca superstar Machel Montano has cemented his legendary status by securing an unprecedented 12th Road March title, breaking a historic tie with the late calypso icon Lord Kitchener. The announcement came on Wednesday following the evaluation of songs most frequently played during Carnival Monday and Tuesday festivities.
Montano’s victorious track “Encore” dominated the soundscapes of this year’s parade, marking his first Road March victory since 1997 when he initially claimed the title with “Big Truck.” This latest achievement establishes a new benchmark in Trinidadian Carnival history, demonstrating Montano’s enduring influence on the soca genre.
The competition saw notable performances from other Caribbean artists, with Voice securing second place through his hit “Cyah Behave,” a collaborative effort with Saint Lucian producer Dwayne Mendes. Bunji Garlin captured third position with “Road Man,” rounding out the top three contenders.
This international collaboration continues a tradition of cross-Caribbean musical partnerships. Saint Lucian Courtney Louis previously contributed to Montano’s 2007 winning composition “Jumbie,” highlighting the regional creative exchange that characterizes contemporary soca production.
The winning composition “Cyah Behave” achieved additional distinction as the performance piece that earned Republic Bank Exodus their 2026 Panorama champions title. Both Montano and Voice are scheduled to bring their acclaimed performances to Saint Lucia later this year, with Voice appearing at Soufriere Jazz on May 2nd and Montano headlining Color Me Red on July 17th.