Jamaica’s Patra to receive Lifetime Achievement Honor at 2026 Caribbean Music Awards

Jamaica: Jamaican dancehall pioneer Patra will be celebrated with the Lifetime Achievement Honor at the fourth annual Caribbean Music Awards, which will make its first appearance in Trinidad and Tobago September 18-20, 2026.

The awards show, the highlight of a three-day, island-wide Elite Weekend Experience that also features music and cultural events, will be presented at the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

Patra is being honored for her contributions to dancehall, reggae and Black music in general. She was one of the first female DJs, aka Lady Patra, before launching her recording career alongside Shabba Ranks. Her album “Queen of the Pack” has been the first ever by a Jamaican female artist to top the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, and claim the Gold in the U.S.

The other honorees includes Shyne, who will receive the Global Ambassador Honor; Calypso Rose, who has been awarded the Elite Calypso Honor; and Haitian-American Alan Cave who will be feted with the Elite Konpa Honor.

The 2026's awards show will have more than 250 nominees across 40 different categories, under the theme “Sounds of the Caribbean.” Reggae, soca, dancehall, gospel and R&B were among the genres represented in the final nominees.

Lady Lava from Trinidad and Tobago leads the pack with nine nods, including four in the seven categories in which she was nominated. Trinidadian soca star Machel Montano, V’Ghn and Ayetian each received seven nominations, while Shenseea and Skillibeng landed six.

This year's event will have several new categories, such as Konpa Song of the Year, Dennery Artist and Song of the Year, Chutney Soca Artist and Song of the Year, Zess Song of the Year, amongst several others categories.

Soca star Nailah Blackman and comedian Majah Hype, from Trinidad and Tobago will host the awards show. It will be Majah Hype’s fourth year in a row, while Blackman will be hosting for the first time after attending the awards as a fan, performer, nominee and winner.

The weekend-long event kicks off on Sunday, September 18, with a welcome reception and industry networking with cultural activities, followed by a red carpet arrivals, awards show, pre-show events and post-show after-party on Monday, September 19.

The weekend experience winds down with a closing steelpan celebration, the Stars & Steel Pan Concert & Awards on Tuesday, September 20. The first three annual Caribbean Music Awards shows were held at the New York City’s Kings Theatre in Brooklyn.