Shenseea led the dancehall field and Lila Iké topped reggae at the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards, held on Friday, September 19, 2026, at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, the Gleaner reports. It was the fourth staging of the fan-voted awards, and the first in the Caribbean itself after three years at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, according to Billboard’s full winners list.

Shenseea: three dancehall trophies

Shenseea was named Female Dancehall Artist of the Year. The remix of “Shake It to the Max (FLY)” — credited to MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng and Shenseea — then took both Dancehall Song of the Year and Dancehall Collaboration of the Year, per Billboard. The record peaked at No. 44 on the Billboard Hot 100. Billboard notes she “nearly swept” last year’s ceremony; this year she was tied as the second-most-awarded act of the night, behind Trinidad’s Lady Lava with four.

The song win is a back-to-back for Shenseea in the category. In 2025 Dancehall Song of the Year went to “Hit & Run,” her collaboration with Masicka and Di Genius, World Music Views and Caribbean National Weekly report. The same outlets note the milestone on the other side of the record: MOLIY, the Ghanaian singer who fronts the track, became the first Ghanaian artist to win a Caribbean Music Award. World Music Views adds that the remix has been certified Gold by the RIAA. A Ghanaian lead and two Jamaican stars on one Hot 100 dancehall record — the kind of cross-border reach these awards were set up to recognise.

Lila Iké: reggae’s female artist of the year, again

Lila Iké won Female Reggae Artist of the Year and Reggae Collaboration of the Year, the latter for “Romantic” with Masicka, per Billboard. “Romantic” comes from Treasure Self Love, the singer’s debut album, released in August 2025 and nominated for Best Reggae Album at the Grammys in February, where the award went to Keznamdi.

The female reggae title is becoming hers. When she took it in August 2025 the Gleaner described it as her third consecutive win and said she was the only artist to have held the category since the ceremony began. Friday’s result makes it four in a row. “It’s amazing, because it’s something that people actually have to vote for,” she told The Star after last year’s win, as quoted by the Gleaner.

Masicka, for his part, left with two awards: the reggae collaboration alongside Lila Iké, and Dancehall Video of the Year for “Rich Sex,” per Billboard.

Jamaica’s night in the reggae field

The reggae categories read like a Kingston roll call. Buju Banton was named Male Reggae Artist of the Year. Chronixx’s Exile — Billboard’s No. 1 Caribbean album of 2025 — won Reggae Album of the Year. Protoje’s “BIG 45” was Reggae Song of the Year, Grammy winner Keznamdi took the Reggae Impact Award, and Cholita was Reggae Best New Artist. In dancehall, Valiant was Male Dancehall Artist of the Year, Prince Swanny’s Saint won Dancehall Album of the Year, Ding Dong was Dancehall Performer of the Year and Ayetian took both Dancehall Best New Artist and the Dancehall Impact Award. Patra received the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Alkaline won the People’s Choice Award.

The ceremony was co-hosted by soca star Nailah Blackman and comedian Majah Hype, with performances including Jah Mason and 450, Billboard reports. It anchored a weekend that also included the Stars & Steel Concert and Awards on September 20, honouring steelpan pioneers Dr Len “Boogsie” Sharpe and Dr Bertram “Birch” Kelman and the organisation Pan Trinbago. The awards are presented by the Caribbean Elite Group.

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Sources: Jamaica Gleaner — “Shenseea leads dancehall at CMAs; Lila Iké tops reggae” (September 23, 2026); Billboard — “Lady Lava Reigns Victorious at 2026 Caribbean Music Awards: See the Full Winners List” (Kyle Denis, September 23, 2026; venue, date, full winners, Hot 100 peak, hosts, Stars & Steel); World Music Views — “Shenseea Scores Back-to-Back Dancehall Song of the Year Wins at Caribbean Music Awards” (September 20, 2026; 2025 win, Moliy milestone, RIAA Gold); Caribbean National Weekly — “Ghana’s Moliy makes history at Caribbean Music Awards in Trinidad” (Jovani Davis, September 21, 2026); Jamaica Gleaner — “Lila Iké celebrates debut album with heartfelt J’can release party” (September 22, 2025; ‘Romantic’ on Treasure Self Love, consecutive wins, quote).