After three editions hosted thousands of miles away in New York, the Caribbean Music Awards reached a landmark milestone over the weekend when it held its fourth annual ceremony for the first time on Caribbean soil, in the twin-island nation of Trinidad & Tobago. This year’s event expanded its recognition of the region’s rich, diverse musical tapestry by adding several new categories – most notably, an award slate dedicated to Dennery Segment, the high-energy, Saint Lucian-born genre that has grown rapidly in popularity across the Caribbean and global diaspora in recent years.
In a competitive field of standout nominees, Jamaican-American artist Klassik claimed the coveted trophy for Dennery Segment Song of the Year for his chart-topping hit *Dansa*. He beat out heavy local and regional competitors, including Blackboy’s *Clap*, Hollywood HP and Ricky T’s collaborative track *Freak Out*, and Dezral & Jardel’s *The Car*, to take the inaugural honor in the category. The night’s other major Dennery Segment award, Artiste of the Year, went to Umpa, who outperformed fellow nominees Blackboy, DJ ASAP, Mighty, Nerdy, and the duo Dezral & Jardel to secure the title.
Beyond celebrating the rising genre, the 2026 awards ceremony shines a spotlight on the full spectrum of Caribbean sonic traditions, recognizing standout work across established beloved genres that form the backbone of the region’s cultural identity. These include soca in its multiple forms – from traditional soca to bouyon soca and chutney soca – as well as dancehall, reggae, konpa, Latin Caribbean fusion, and the up-and-coming genre zess.
The move from Brooklyn, New York, where all previous iterations of the awards were held, to the Caribbean itself marks more than a change of venue: it represents a pivotal step in centering the region’s own artists and cultural ecosystems on the global stage. For the 2026 edition, organizers adjusted eligibility to honor music released across 2024 and 2025, framing the in-region debut as a reset and a foundational moment for the awards’ future as the leading celebration of Caribbean musical talent worldwide.