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
- 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
- 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
- Best Comedian
- Blakka Ellis
• Dale Elliott
• Dufton Shepherd
• Majah Hype
• White Yardie.
- Festival of the Year (Multiple Days)
- Reggae Sumfest
• Reggae Land
• Reggae on the River
• Reggae Rise Up Florida
• Rototom Sunsplash
- Concert of the Year (One Day)
- Best of the Best – Miami
• Intimate Jamaica Concert – Jamaica
• Shattafest – Ghana
• Zimfest – UK
• Beyond Kontrol – Medikel – Ghana
- 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.
- 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
- Best Reggaeton Entertainer
- Daddy Yankee
• J Balvin
• Karol G
• Nego
• Snow Tha Product
- Best Social Media Influencer – Journalist
- Ameyaw Dedrah
• Winford Williams
• Quest Times
• Sleek – Jamaica
• Tropix
- 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
- Martin’s International – IRAWMA Award of Honor
- George Crooks (Jammin’ Productions)
- Howard Chung (VP Records)
- Hall of Fame / Lifetime Achievement
- Winston Rodney aka Burning Spear – Lifetime & Master of World Music Honor
- Wayne Armond (Chalice)
- Special Honor – African Entertainer
- Awilo Longomba (Congo)
More Special Honorees to be announced prior to or during the Awards Ceremony.