Several Caribbean artists and albums have made it onto the list of entries being considered for the 2026 Grammy Awards, highlighting what some regional industry players say is the Caribbean’s growing presence on the global music stage.
On the preliminary, “For Your Consideration” roster are over 70 Jamaican albums, over 12 Trinidadian artists, and one Barbadian act. Rihanna’s Friend of Mine is among the high-profile submissions, considered in multiple categories including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Dance Pop Recording, Best Music Video, and Best Song Written for Visual Media.
From Trinidad and Tobago, Kes the Band’s Cocoa Tea and Yung Bredda/Full Blown’s The Greatest Bend Over are being considered in the Best Global Music Performance category. Etienne Charles’ Kumbaya is nominated in the Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals category and his album Gullah Roots in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Best Jazz Performance, and Best Instrumental Composition categories. Gail Ann Stevens’ (Precious Gail) Adored is being considered in the Best African Music Performance category.
Amongst Jamaican albums being considered, Vybz Kartel’s Heart & Soul, Lila Ike’s Treasure Self Love, and Ding Dong’s From Ding Dong to the World are all in consideration for Best Reggae Album.
For Trinidad, local producers and professionals across the field attribute the country’s representation on the Grammys’ consideration list to years of effort of encouraging musicians to submit their work.
Though based in the United States, the Grammy Awards are increasingly seeking to reflect a global music industry, particularly with the introduction of categories like Global Music Performance in 2022 and with efforts to diversify its voting membership.
All submitted works are first reviewed by a panel of more than 350 music professionals to ensure submissions meet specific qualifications and are then placed in appropriate fields before being placed on the first-round ballot.
Ballots are then sent to voting members who can only vote in their areas of expertise. Ballots are then tabulated by accounting firm, Deloitte, to determine final nominees.
After nominations are announced voting members vote for winners in each category. There are more than 13 000 voting members.
It is unclear how many Caribbean nationals or members of the diaspora are among the Grammy voting group, but this year’s list of considerations suggests the region’s artists are being heard increasingly more.
