The Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival has been named Music Festival of the Year at the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards, a regional recognition announced on September 19 at the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
The accolade acknowledges the festival's role in advancing Caribbean music and culture, alongside its track record of drawing international performers and audiences while providing a stage for regional and local artists.
Thaddeus M. Antoine, who leads both the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority and the festival, described the win as a defining moment. He stated the honour affirms that the island's culture is "one of our greatest strengths, capable of uniting our people, inspiring the region and carrying the spirit of our island onto the global stage."
Saint Lucian musician Umpa earned Dennery Segment Artist of the Year, while Jamaican-American soca performer Klassik Frescobar took Dennery Segment Song of the Year for "Dansa."
Since its launch in 1992, the festival has expanded beyond its jazz roots into a multidisciplinary showcase encompassing music, visual arts, theatre, dance, fashion and cuisine. Programming now spans major venues, smaller intimate spaces and grassroots community settings across the island.
The event drives economic benefits across lodging, dining, transport, shopping and event production, creating work for performers, musicians, artisans, cooks, traders and cultural organisations. Community Jazz and Arts initiatives have helped distribute these gains more widely throughout Saint Lucia's neighbourhoods.
The festival is scheduled for April 30 to May 9, 2027.
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