Vybz Kartel was the biggest winner at the 43rd International Reggae and World Music Awards, held on Sunday, May 17, 2026, taking nine awards, including Entertainer of the Year, Recording Artist of the Year, and Best Caribbean Entertainer.
Vybz Kartel was the biggest winner at the 43rd International Reggae and World Music Awards on Sunday night, taking nine awards, including Entertainer of the Year, Recording Artist of the Year, and Best Caribbean Entertainer.
Ghanaian dancehall artist Shatta Wale also won two awards on the night, as his fellow countryman Black Sherif was adjudged the Most Promising Entertainer.
The ceremony also honoured several veteran figures in reggae, dancehall and world music. Mavado received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to dancehall and Caribbean culture, while Burning Spear, whose real name is Winston Rodney, received the Lifetime and Master of Reggae and World Music Culture Award.
Marcia Griffiths, Spragga Benz, Wayne Armond, Awilo Longomba, and Gramps Morgan were also among those recognized.
Below is the full list of winners.
Hon Bob Marley Award for Entertainer of the Year — Vybz Kartel
Peter Tosh Award for Recording Artist of the Year — Vybz Kartel
Jacob Miller Award for Best Male Vocalist — Gramps Morgan
Best Female Vocalist — Etana
Gregory Isaacs Award for Best Song — Vybz Kartel (“God Is the Greatest”)
Toots Hibbert Award for Best Album/CD — Vybz Kartel (“Heart and Soul”)
Jimmy Cliff Award for Best Crossover Song — Vybz Kartel
Hon-Shelvin L. M. Hall Award for Best Gospel Entertainer — Dr. Carlene Davis-Cowan
Best EP Recording — Masicka (“Her Name is Love”)
Best Male DJ/Rapper — Vybz Kartel
Best Female DJ/Rapper — Shenseea
Best New Entertainer — Nhance
Best Calypso/Soca Entertainer — Yung Bredda
Best Dancehall Stagecraft Entertainer — Spice
Best Singjay Entertainer — Busy Signal
Best African Dancehall Entertainer — Shatta Wale
Best Afrobeats Entertainer — Flavour
Best Collaboration Reggae Song — DJ Khaled, Vybz Kartel, Buju Banton, Bounty Killer & Mavado (“You Remind Me”)
Best Reggae Rock Entertainer — The Movement
Best Youth Entertainer — 1 Emmaa
Best Music Video — DJ Khaled, Vybz Kartel, Buju Banton, Bounty Killer & Mavado (“You Remind Me”)
Mutabaruka Award for Best Poet/Spoken Word Entertainer — Richie Innocent
Bunny Wailer Award for Most Cultural/Educational Entertainer — Sizzla
Dennis Brown Award Most Promising Entertainer — Black Sherif
Best Instrumentalist — Dean Fraser
Best Sound System/Dance DJ — Tony Matterhorn
Most Outstanding Dance Group — Militant Dance Family & Zigi
Best Caribbean Entertainer — Vybz Kartel
Jean B. P. DuSable Award for Best Haitian Entertainer — Rutshelle Guillaume
Record Producer of the Year — DJ Mac
Best Comedian — Majah Hype
Festival of the Year — Reggae Sumfest
Concert of the Year — Shattafest
Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award — Spice
Most Popular Jamaica Hurricane Melissa Song “Faith We A Keep” — Sean Paul
Best Reggaeton Entertainer — Daddy Yankee
Best Social Media Influencer (Reporters) — Ameyaw Debrah
Best Entertainer – Social Media Influencer — Popcaan
Best South Florida Entertainer — Shuga
Florida Salute Best South Florida Dancehall DJ — DJ Tony Mix
