The call for nominations has officially gone out for the 2026 edition of Dominica’s prestigious Golden Drum Awards, with three leading national cultural bodies inviting the public to celebrate outstanding contributors to the island’s unique cultural tapestry. The Ministry of Culture, Youth, Sports and Community Development, the national Cultural Division, and the National Cultural Council have launched this year’s nomination cycle, aiming to shine a spotlight on individuals and organizations that have left an indelible mark on Dominica’s cultural growth.
Per an official press statement from the Cultural Division, the Golden Drum Awards hold unmatched status as the country’s highest national recognition for cultural excellence. For years, the awards program has centered on honoring trailblazers who have dedicated their work to safeguarding Dominica’s rich cultural heritage, amplifying its reach both locally and globally, and driving forward innovative development within the cultural sector.
This year, nominations will be accepted across two distinct award categories, designed to recognize cultural contributions at different career stages and across different impact areas. The flagship Golden Drum Award is exclusively reserved for individual creators and cultural leaders who have built a long-standing, transformative positive legacy in Dominica’s cultural space, with a requirement that nominees have actively worked in the cultural field for no less than 20 years.
Complementing this top honor, the Special Recognition Award acknowledges newer contributors and standout achievements: it is open to individuals, community groups, and formal institutions that have amassed less than 20 years of cultural work, or those that have delivered exceptional, groundbreaking outcomes in a specific niche cultural discipline.
Organizers have outlined clear eligibility requirements to guide potential nominators. All nominees must hold Dominican citizenship, and self-nominations will not be accepted under any circumstances. Every nomination submission must also include all requested supporting documentation to be considered for review.
For those interested in putting forward a deserving candidate or organization, two accessible nomination pathways are available. The first is an online submission portal, hosted at https://form.jotform.com/251396023989872, which allows for convenient digital submission from anywhere. For those who prefer physical forms, printed copies are available for pickup directly from the Cultural Division offices located at the Old Mill Cultural Centre.
All submissions must be received by the stated deadline of June 30, 2026. Organizers have emphasized that no late entries will be reviewed or considered, regardless of circumstance, to ensure the awards review process stays on schedule.
In closing, the partnering cultural institutions are urging community members across Dominica to take part in this process by putting forward the cultural practitioners and organizations whose tireless work continues to reinforce the island’s distinct national cultural identity and serve as a source of inspiration for young, emerging cultural creators. Any members of the public seeking additional information or clarification on the nomination process are invited to contact the Cultural Division directly via phone at 266-4489.