Trinidad and Tobago soca star Nailah Blackman is set to take centre stage as a co-host of the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards, as the prestigious regional celebration prepares to be held in Trinidad and Tobago for the first time.
Blackman will share hosting duties with Caribbean-American comedian and entertainer Majah Hype when the awards ceremony takes place on September 19, 2026, at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain.
The occasion represents a major moment for both Blackman and Trinidad and Tobago. After its first three editions were staged at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York, the Caribbean Music Awards will move into the region it was created to celebrate, with Trinidad and Tobago becoming the first Caribbean country to host the event.
For Blackman, the hosting role adds another dimension to her relationship with the awards. The Trinidadian singer has previously been involved as a performer, nominee and winner, and will now help guide audiences through one of the Caribbean entertainment industry’s major nights.
Blackman is also among this year’s nominees, earning a nomination for Female Soca Artist of the Year.
The singer has built an international following through her distinctive approach to soca and Caribbean music. As the granddaughter of the late Ras Shorty I, widely recognised for his pivotal role in the development of soca music, Blackman also carries one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most significant musical legacies.
Her selection as a host therefore carries added symbolism as the awards arrive in Trinidad and Tobago, one of the countries at the heart of soca’s history and continued development.
The 2026 Caribbean Music Awards feature more than 250 nominees across over 40 categories, recognising performers and creators representing soca, dancehall, reggae and other Caribbean musical genres.
The main ceremony forms part of the wider Caribbean Elite Weekend Experience scheduled for September 18–20.
With Blackman moving from nominee and performer to co-host, the Trinidadian artist will have one of the most visible roles of the evening as Caribbean music celebrates its stars on Caribbean soil.
For Trinidad and Tobago, the event also provides an opportunity to showcase the country’s entertainment industry and culture to a wider international audience while welcoming artists and music professionals from across the region and diaspora.
On September 19, the spotlight will therefore be on more than the winners. It will also mark a homecoming for the Caribbean Music Awards — with Nailah Blackman helping lead the celebration from the stage in Port of Spain.
