One year after seeing their six consecutive championship run come to an end, Courts Babonneau Steel Orchestra has bounced back to reclaim the top spot at the 2026 Republic Bank Panorama competition, securing the coveted title in a tense final round of competition held Sunday night.
In a remarkable twist that added drama to the annual steelpan competition, both the newly crowned champion and last year’s winner chose the same arrangement for their final performances: Rootsy’s beloved piece *Hilary*. When the final scores were tallied, Courts Babonneau’s dynamic interpretation of the selection earned them a total of 247.5 points, enough to edge out defending champions Pantime Steel Orchestra, who finished just 3.5 points behind with 244 points to claim second place.
Pantastic Muzik Steel Orchestra rounded out the top three with a score of 226 for their performance of *Boom Bye Bye* by Messanger, while LCCU Laborie Steel Pan took fourth position with 224 points for their rendition of *Cyah Believe It* by Sly.
Alongside the coveted orchestra title, the competition also featured a closely contested solo division. Chazzi Desrivieres emerged as the solo champion, earning an overall score of 433.5 for his performance of Arthur’s *Lottery*. Jessy Nurse claimed second place in the solo category with 423 points performing Kisha Kay’s *Different Energy*, and Omar Gabriel followed closely behind in third with 416 points for the same selection. Kannis Desrivieres took fourth place in the solo competition with 398 points for his take on Imran Nerdy’s *Feelings*.
The 2026 Republic Bank Panorama continues the event’s long legacy as a premier celebration of steelpan music, showcasing elite talent from across the region and drawing widespread attention from fans of the genre globally. For Courts Babonneau, the victory caps off a year of intense preparation after their unexpected defeat in 2025, reaffirming their status as one of the most dominant steel orchestras in the competition’s recent history.