Radeya Osman

After auditions on Tuesday 16 September, ten (10) young performers have been selected as finalists in the Tobago Junior Calypso Monarch competition. The finals will be held on Thursday 2 October, at Shaw Park Complex, starting at 10am. This year’s competition will feature performances that showcase vocal richness, lyrical content, stage presence, and school-based support. The defending champion, Khalea Alfred, returns to defend her title. Fans and families are expected to attend early, and ticketing/admission arrangements are scheduled to open in advance through official channels. All finalists are preparing to bring high energy and youthful enthusiasm to Shaw Park, setting

The St. Kitts Tourism Authority officially announced The Wedge Boutique Hotel, a new boutique property slated to open in February 2027, as an addition to the island's hospitality landscape. The Wedge will feature 18 suites, divided evenly into nine two-bedroom and nine one-bedroom units. Each suite will include a fully equipped kitchen, smart home technology, and contemporary design touches. The property will also offer full hotel amenities, including daily housekeeping, room service, concierge, and front desk support. Amenities will include a rooftop bar & lounge, on-site parking, and seven ground-level commercial spaces intended as a retail promenade of cafés,

Elreka Gaymes has been crowned Miss St Vincent and the Grenadines 2026 following an impressive showing at the national pageant, held on Saturday 30 May in Kingstown as part of the Vincy Mas celebrations. Competing against seven delegates, Gaymes delivered consistently strong performances across all judged segments, earning praise for her confidence, stage presence and cultural expression. Staged at Independence Park, the competition featured swimwear, cultural wear, evening gown, talent and interview categories, showcasing the creativity and diversity of Vincentian culture. Gaymes distinguished herself in both the talent and cultural wear segments, demonstrating commanding stagecraft and originality. N’Zinga DeRoche placed

Vincentian soca star Skinny Fabulous has released One Vincy, a new project just in time for Vincy Mas 2026, scheduled from Friday 26 June to Tuesday 7 July. Produced by DSM, the project delivers a collection of tracks that celebrate Vincentian culture, identity and carnival spirit, while showcasing the high-energy soca sound that has made Skinny Fabulous one of the Caribbean’s most recognised artists. Known for hits such as Famalay, Watch Thing, Come Home and Dirty Little Secret, Skinny Fabulous continues to represent St Vincent and the Grenadines on the regional and international stage. One Vincy arrives as anticipation builds

The Power Soca segment of Party Monarch will return to Barbados’ Crop Over 2026 after a six-year break, reviving one of the festival’s most popular categories. Last staged in 2019, when Mikey Mercer claimed the title, the competition was later suspended. Its comeback was confirmed on Wednesday 3 June by Senator Shane Archer, who said it would return “with force” and offer a prize package comparable to Pic-O-De-Crop. The announcement has already sparked strong interest. By 3 June, organisers reported 92 entries, reflecting widespread demand among performers. The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) describes Party Monarch as one of Crop Over’s

The Caribbean Music Awards returns for its fourth year with more than 250 nominees across over 40 categories, highlighting the continued global impact of Caribbean music. Public voting opened on Wednesday 10 June and runs until Monday 10 August at CaribMusicAwards. Organisers have also introduced new categories to recognise Dennery, Zess, Konpa, Chutney Soca, Jab and French Caribbean music. Lady Lava leads the field with nine nominations, making her the most nominated artist across all genres. Ayetian, Machel Montano and V’ghn received seven nominations each, while Shenseea and Skillibeng earned six apiece. The most-nominated song is 'Shake To The Max (Fly)

The countdown to Crop Over 2026 is underway as Barbados prepares for another month of music, culture and celebration. Running from Friday 3 July to Tuesday 4 August, the festival will once again showcase the island’s finest calypsonians, soca artists and masqueraders, culminating in Grand Kadooment. Here are five major events and competitions to watch during Barbados’ sweetest summer festival. Party Monarch FinalsSun 12 July The Party Monarch Finals will mark the return of both Sweet Soca and Power Soca categories after a six-year hiatus. The competition remains one of Crop Over’s biggest attractions and provides a major platform for

The Waltham Forest, Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica Twinning Association (WFTA) has successfully concluded its Connect2Reconnect (C2R) Pilot 2026 delegation visit, marking a key milestone in its 27-year history. Held from 20 April to 8 May, the initiative brought together community leaders, government officials and cultural organisations to reinforce longstanding ties between the London Borough of Waltham Forest and its Caribbean partners. Led by Chair Mervin Caesar-John, the delegation engaged in official meetings, media appearances and community outreach across Antigua, Barbuda and Dominica. In Barbuda, discussions were held with MP Trevor Walker and Barbuda Council Chair John Mussington, alongside a

Atlanta will welcome a new Caribbean cultural event on Saturday 11 July with the inaugural Rum Island Festival at Piedmont Park Promenade. The one-day event will be headlined by Jamaican dancehall star Aidonia and rising Jamaican-Haitian artist Ayetian. Organisers describe the Rum Island Festival as a premium cultural experience centred on the theme of Culture. Community. Rum. The event aims to bring together music, food and community engagement while celebrating the growing influence of Caribbean culture in the United States and beyond. The line-up also features Trinidad and Tobago soca artist Melick and Brooklyn-born soca performer Added Rankin, whose heritage

Costume launches remain one of the highlights of the Crop Over season, with revellers now making their final preparations for Barbados' biggest festival. Crop Over 2026 runs from Friday 3 July to Tuesday 4 August, with Grand Kadooment taking place on Monday 3 August and Foreday Morning on Saturday 1 August. The official list of registered Kadooment and Foreday Morning band entries, as published by the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), is as follows: Kadooment BandsBand - Facebook - Instagram Aura Experience - Aura Experience - @AURA_EXPERIENCE Betty West Productions - Betty West Band - @BettyWestBand Colorz Entertainment - Colorz Entertainment