The Government of Dominica has signed on as an Official Sponsor of the Bouyon Award Categories at the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards, a partnership that places the Dominican-born genre and the Nature Island before a regional and international audience. The awards are set for Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
The sponsorship is being delivered through the Ministry of Tourism and the Discover Dominica Authority. It forms part of a wider push to use the island’s music, traditions and cultural expressions to strengthen destination awareness and promote major Dominican events, including the World Creole Music Festival and Mas Domnik, Dominica’s Carnival.
Eight Dominican bouyon acts have been nominated for the 2026 awards: Asa Bantan, Dirty Dawg Pudaz, Mr. Ridge, Reo, Shelly & Signal Band, Trilla G, Shiloh and Khallion. Their nominations fall under the Bouyon Artist of the Year and Bouyon Song of the Year categories, recognising both established names and emerging contributors to the genre.
Tourism Minister Denise Charles-Pemberton said the genre’s roots are a source of national pride and economic opportunity. «Bouyon is distinctly Dominican, and its continued growth across the Caribbean and internationally creates important opportunities for our artistes, our creative sector and our country,» she said. «The Government of Dominica is committed to supporting platforms that elevate Dominican talent, expand the reach of our cultural products and strengthen the contribution of our creative industries to tourism and economic development. Our partnership with the Caribbean Music Awards is an investment in the continued growth and international visibility of a genre that was created right here in Dominica.»
Caribbean Music Awards co-founder Prince Forde welcomed the collaboration as the awards make their Caribbean debut in Trinidad. «As CaribMA makes its Caribbean debut this September in Trinidad, partnering with the Government of Dominica is exactly the kind of collaboration that makes this moment so special,» he said. «We’re proud of the work Dominica is committed to around music, culture and community, and we share a similar vision for how these powerful forces can connect people, celebrate identity and create opportunities. We’re proud to amplify Dominica’s sound and its story, bringing them to audiences across the Caribbean and around the world.»
The partnership includes pre-event promotional activity highlighting Dominica’s sponsorship and its link to bouyon. A central element is the «Experience Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival» Giveaway, which will offer one winner a complimentary vacation package to Dominica, covering round-trip airfare, accommodation, ground transportation and tickets to the World Creole Music Festival.
The giveaway comes ahead of the 26th World Creole Music Festival, scheduled for October 23 to 25, 2026, at Windsor Park Sports Stadium in Roseau. The three-night event showcases Dominican, Caribbean and international music, including bouyon, cadence-lypso, konpa, soca, reggae and dancehall. Dominica will also celebrate Mas Domnik, the Real Mas, on February 8 and 9, 2027.
Through its participation in the awards, the Discover Dominica Authority will pursue destination marketing, media relations, stakeholder engagement and promotional activations around the event. The aim is to turn bouyon’s growing regional and international visibility into greater awareness of Dominica and stronger interest in travel to the island.
The Caribbean Music Awards celebrates artistes and music professionals who contribute to the development, growth and visibility of Caribbean music.
