NOMINEES 2026 and Honorees

 

The 43rd IRAWMA Honorees, Nominees, and categories are:

1. Emperor of Reggae & World Music

Hon. Bob Marley Award – Entertainer of the Year

  • Sean Paul

  • Shaggy

  • Vybz Kartel

  • Lila Iké

  • Masicka

2. Peter Tosh Award – Recording Artist of the Year

  • Chronic Law
  • Lila Iké

  • Masicka

  • Sean Paul

  • Shaggy

  • Vybz Kartel

3. Jacob Miller Award – Best Male Vocalist

  • Christopher Martin

  • Gramps Morgan

  • Romaine Virgo

  • Richie Stephens

  • Tarrus Riley

4. Best Female Vocalist

  • Lila Iké

  • Etana

  • Marcia Griffiths

  • Naomi Cowan

  • Shaneil Muir

5. Gregory Isaacs Award – Best Song

  • “Forever Grateful” – Keznamdi ft. Masicka

  • “God Is the Greatest” – Vybz Kartel

  • “Exile” – Chronixx

  • “New York Girls” – Chronic Law

  • “Opportunist” – I-Octane

  • “All Over the World” – Lila Iké ft. Protoje

  • “Let It Talk to Me” – Sean Paul ft. Inna

6. Toots Hibbert Award – Best Album/CD

  • “Treasure Self Love” – Lila Iké

  • “Move (The Remixes)” – Shaggy

  • “Heart & Soul” – Vybz Kartel

  • “Blood & Fyah” – Keznamdi

  • “No Place Like Home” – Jesse Royal

7. Jimmy Cliff Award – Best Crossover Entertainer

  • Chronic Law

  • Moliy (Ghana)

  • Sean Paul

  • Shaggy

  • Vybz Kartel

8. Hon. Shelvin L.M. Hall Award – Best Gospel Entertainer

  • Carlene Davis

  • DJ Nicholas

  • Kevin Downswell

  • Papa San

  • Judith Gayle

  • Prince Saj

  • Jason Mighty

9. Best EP (Extended Play)

  • “Piece of Me” – 450

  • “Dancing to the Max” – Elephant Man

  • “Her Name Is Love” – Masicka

  • “Deluxe” – Protoje

  • “41 Ride Riddim” – Sizzla

10. Best Male DJ/Rapper

  • Alkaline

  • Beenie Man

  • Buju Banton

  • Masicka

  • Vybz Kartel

11. Best Female DJ/Rapper

  • D’Angel

  • Jada Kingdom

  • Koffee

  • Shenseea

  • Spice

12. Best New Entertainer

  • Ayetian

  • Malie Donn

  • Mystic Marley

  • Skippa

  • Nhance

13. Best Calypso/Soca Entertainer

  • Kes

  • Machel Montano

  • Patrice Roberts

  • Trinidad Killa

  • Yung Bredda

14. Best Dancehall Stagecraft Entertainer

Sponsored by Onstage TV – Winford Williams

  • Aidonia

  • Beenie Man

  • Dexta Daps

  • Elephant Man

  • Spice

15. Best Singjay Entertainer

  • Busy Signal

  • Chronic Law

  • Dexta Daps

  • I-Octane

  • Nigy Boy

16. Best African Dancehall Entertainer

  • Cindy Sanyu (Uganda)

  • Redsan (Kenya)

  • Shatta Wale (Ghana)

  • Sosey Boy (Congo-Brazzaville)

  • Timaya (Nigeria)

  • Winky D (Zimbabwe)

17. Best Afrobeat Entertainer

  • Akothee (Kenya)

  • Flavour (Nigeria)

  • Fally Ipupa (Congo)

  • Juma Jux (Tanzania)

  • OC Oscillation (Zambia)

18. Best Collaboration Song – Reggae & Other Genres

  • “You Remind Me” – DJ Khaled ft. Vybz Kartel, Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, Mavado, Rory (Stony Love), Kaylan

  • “Boom Body” – Shaggy & Akon

  • “Shake It to the Max” – Moliy, Shenseea & Skilibeng

  • “PBT” – Vybz Kartel & Travis Scott

  • “Sugar Sweet” – Mariah Carey ft. Shenseea & Kehlani

19. Best Reggae Rock Entertainer

  • Stick Figure

  • The Elovaters

  • The Movement

  • The Hip Abduction

  • Tropidelic

20. Best Youth Entertainer (Under 19)

  • 1Emmaa

  • Alexi Desong

  • Tielo Lanez

  • Nineca

  • Qing Madi

 

  1. Best Music Video
  • “Shake It to the Max” – Moliy, Shenseea, Skilibeng & Silent Addy
    • “God Is the Greatest” – Vybz Kartel
    • “You Remind Me” – DJ Khaled ft. Vybz Kartel, Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, Mavado, Rory (Stony Love) & Kaylan
     • “Street Crown” – Shatta Wale
     • “Opportunist” – I-Octane

22. Mutabaruka Award – Best Poet/Spoken Word Entertainer

  • Amaziyah The Great
    • Marcia Jackson
    • Majorie Walters (Maj Da Poet)
     • Richie Innocent
     • Wise Wurdz

23. Bunny Wailer Award – Most Cultural/Educational Entertainer

  • Gramps Morgan
    • Protoje
    • Damian Marley
     • Chronixx
     • Sizzla

24. Dennis Brown Award – Most Promising Entertainer

  • Tielo Lanez
    • Nhance
    • Moliy (Ghana)
     • Mystic Marley
     • Black Sherif (Ghana)

25. Best Instrumentalist

  • Bongo Herman
    • Dean Fraser
    • Demola (Nigeria)
     • Nigel Rojas (Trinidad & Tobago)

26. Best Sound System/Dance DJ

  • Ruff Cutt
    • Tony Matterhorn
    • Stone Love
     • Dunrich World Sound
     • Bass Odyssey

27. Most Outstanding Dance Group

(Sponsored by Roc Factory Grassroots Renaissance)

  • Explosive Dancers
    • Fantastic Steppaz
    • Immortals
     • Militant Dancers
     • Xqlusive Dancers

28. Best Caribbean Entertainer

(Sponsored by VP Records)

  • Beenie Man
    • Popcaan
    • Sean Paul
     • Shaggy
     • Spice
     • Vybz Kartel
  1. Jean B.P. DuSable Award – Best Haitian Entertainer
  • Anie Alerte
    • Joé Dwèt Filé
    • Kenny Haiti
     • Roody Roodboy
     • Rutshelle Guillaume

30. Record Producer of the Year

  • DJ Mac
    • Dre Skull
    • Rvssian
     • Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor
     • Sean Alaric
  1. Best Comedian
  • Blakka Ellis
    • Dale Elliott
    • Dufton Shepherd
     • Majah Hype
     • White Yardie.
  1. Festival of the Year (Multiple Days)
  • Reggae Sumfest
    • Reggae Land
    • Reggae on the River
     • Reggae Rise Up Florida
     • Rototom Sunsplash
  1. Concert of the Year (One Day)
  • Best of the Best – Miami
    • Intimate Jamaica Concert – Jamaica
    • Shattafest – Ghana
     • Zimfest – UK
     • Beyond Kontrol – Medikel – Ghana
  1. Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award
  • D’Angel
    • Josef Bogdanovich
    • The Marley Family
     • Romeich
     • Sean Paul
     • Shaggy
     • Spice

Celebrating philanthropic leadership and social impact within the global reggae community.

  1. Most Popular Jamaica Hurricane Melissa Song
  • “Jamaica Strong” – Aiesha Barrett
    • “Jamaica Love” – Busy Signal
    • “Melissa” – Mr. Vegas
     • “Oh Jésus” – Nhance
     • “Faith We A Keep” – Sean Paul
  1. Best Reggaeton Entertainer
  • Daddy Yankee
    • J Balvin
    • Karol G
     • Nego
     • Snow Tha Product
  1. Best Social Media Influencer – Journalist
  • Ameyaw Dedrah
    • Winford Williams
    • Quest Times
     • Sleek – Jamaica
     • Tropix
  1. Most Popular Social Media Influencer – Entertainer
  • Popcaan
    • Sean Paul
    • Shenseea
     • Spice
     • Shaggy

39. Florida Salute – Best South Florida Entertainer

  • Brimstone
    • Code Red
     • Sizwe C (Soca)
     • Shuga
     • Visions Band

40. Florida Salute – Best South Florida Dancehall DJ

  • DJ Swacky
    • DJ Sinistar
    • DJ Tony Mix (Haitian)
     • Prince Kani
     • Tek 9 Sound

SPECIAL HONORS

  1. Martin’s International – IRAWMA Award of Honor
  • George Crooks (Jammin’ Productions)

  • Howard Chung (VP Records)

  1. Hall of Fame / Lifetime Achievement
  • Winston Rodney aka Burning Spear – Lifetime & Master of World Music Honor

  • Wayne Armond (Chalice)

 

  1. Special Honor – African Entertainer
  • Awilo Longomba (Congo)

More Special Honorees to be announced prior to or during the Awards Ceremony.