Vybz Kartel swept the IRAWMA Awards 2026

Confirming your favoritism, Vybz Kartel took 9 awards on the 431st edition of the IRAWMA, celebrated this sunday 7 of May in the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center from Florida.

Kartel, which came with the highest number of nominations, won the Bob Marley Award for Artist of the Year, the Peter Tosh Award for Best Recording Artist, the Gregory Isaacs Award for Best Song “Echoes of Sound Systems – When the Two 7’s Clash” is presented as the Sound Clash to end all the sound clashes that will compete for the first major “God Is the Greatest” and the Toots Hibbert Award for Best Album “Echoes of Sound Systems – When the Two 7’s Clash” is presented as the Sound Clash to end all the sound clashes that will compete for the first major Heart and Soul.

He also took the Jimmy Cliff Award for Best Crossover, Best Male DJ/Rapper Y Best Caribbean Artist.

Their two shared victories came with “You Remind Me”, the theme of DJ Khaled beside Buju Banton, Bounty Killer Y Mavado, who won Best Reggae Collaboration Y Best Music Video.

The IRAWMA Awards return with Vybz Kartel leading the nominations

Vybz Kartel thanked the awards

Although the “Worl’ Boss” was not at the ceremony, thanked him for the honor of being awarded at the IRAWMA through his Instagram account.

“Awards like these do more than celebrate people: They help preserve the essence of our culture. They remind the world that reggae and dancehall are not just music… they are history, lucha, triumph, spirit and identity”, the artist highlighted on Instagram.

Kartel emphasized that “Being recognized by your peers is one of the greatest honors an artist can receive., because greatness has more meaning when it is recognized by those who truly understand the path”.

 

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A shared post from KING OF DANCEHALL (@vybzkartel)

The rest of the night

Shenseea won Best Female DJ/Rapper, while Spice took Best Dancehall Artist on Stage and the Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award.

Meanwhile, Masicka won Best EP for Her Name Is Love, Busy Signal was named Best Singjay, among other awards.

The ceremony also paid tribute to several veteran reggae figures, dancehall and world music.

Mavado received a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to dancehall and Caribbean culture, while Burning Spear, which name is Winston Rodney, received the lifetime achievement award and the Master of Reggae Culture and World Music award.

Marcia Griffiths, Spragga Benz, Wayne Armond, Awilo Longomba and Gramps Morgan They were also among those honored.

This is the complete list of winners of the night:

1. Honorable Bob Marley Award for Artist of the Year — Vybz Kartel
2. Peter Tosh Award for Recording Artist of the Year — Vybz Kartel
3. Jacob Miller Award for Best Male Vocalist — Gramps Morgan
4. Best Female Vocalist — Etana
5. Gregory Isaacs Award for Best Song — Vybz Kartel ( “God is the greatest” )
6. Toots Hibbert Award for Best Album/CD — Vybz Kartel ( “Heart and Soul” )
7. Jimmy Cliff Award for Best Crossover Song — Vybz Kartel
8. Hon-Shelvin LM Hall Award for Best Gospel Artist—Dra. Carlene Davis-Cowan
9. Best EP — Masicka ( “Her Name is Love” )
10. Best Male DJ/Rapper — Vybz Kartel
11. Best Female DJ/Rapper — Shenseea
12. Best Newcomer — Nhance
13. Best Calypso/Soca Artist: Yung Bredda
14. Best Dancehall Stage Performance Artist — Spice
15. Best Singjay Artist — Busy Signal
16. Best African Dancehall Artist —Shatta Wale
17. Best Afrobeats Artist — Flavor
18. Best Reggae Song Collaboration: DJ Khaled, Vybz Kartel, Buju Banton, Bounty Killer y Mavado ( “You Remind Me” )
19. Best Reggae Rock Artist — The Movement
20. Best Youth Artist — 1 Emma
21. Best Music Video — DJ Khaled, Vybz Kartel, Buju Banton, Bounty Killer y Mavado ( “You Remind Me” )
22. Mutabaruka Award for Best Spoken Word Poet/Artist — Richie Innocent
23. Bunny Wailer Award for Most Cultural/Educational Artist — Sizzla
24. Dennis Brown Award for Most Promising Artist — Black Sherif
25. Best instrumentalist: Dean Fraser
26. Best Sound System/Dance DJ — Tony Matterhorn
27. Most notable dance group: Militant Dance Family y Zigi
28. Best Caribbean Artist — Vybz Kartel
29. Jean BP DuSable Award for the Best Haitian Artist — Rutshelle Guillaume
30. Record Producer of the Year — DJ Mac
31. Best Comedian — Majah Hype
32. Festival of the year — Reggae Sumfest
33. Concert of the year — Shattafest
34. Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award — Spices
35. Hurricane Melissa's Most Popular Song in Jamaica — “Faith We A Keep”, Sean Paul
36. Best Reggaeton Artist — Daddy Yankee
37. Best social media influencer (according to journalists) — Ameyaw Debrah
38. Best Artist–Social Media Influencer — Popcaan
39. Sugar, the best artist in south florida
40. Florida pays tribute to South Florida's best dancehall DJ — DJ Tony Mix