The Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) has announced the nominees for the 37th CBU Media Awards (CMA), following another record-breaking year for the region’s premier media competition.

A total of 683 entries were submitted across 63 categories by 41 media organisations and practitioners representing 16 countries and territories in the Dutch, English, French and Spanish Caribbean. Compared with the previous edition of the Awards, entries increased by 25 per cent, participating organisations rose by 25 per cent, and the number of countries and territories represented grew by 31 per cent.

The Awards programme continues to benefit from the support of regional and international partners whose sponsorship helps recognise excellence in journalism while highlighting issues critical to Caribbean development.

Returning sponsors for the 37th CBU Media Awards include the Caribbean Culture Fund, UNICEF Belize, The Nature Conservancy Caribbean Division, the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management, and Sagicor Caribbean.

The CBU also welcomed three new sponsors for the 2026 competition. The United Nations Sub-Regional Team for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean is supporting the SDG Champion categories, UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Area Office is sponsoring categories focused on child rights issues, and Massy Caribbean is backing four categories including the People’s Choice Awards and key journalism categories.

New Categories Expand Competition

This year’s competition introduced two significant innovations.

For the first time, entrants were able to compete in dedicated photography categories, recognising excellence in both Sports Photography and News Photography.

The CBU also launched a new student competition, creating opportunities for media and communications students from post-secondary and tertiary institutions across the Caribbean to showcase their talents in radio, television, print, digital media and photography.

Leading Organisations and Jurisdictions

Greater Belize Media emerged as the most nominated organisation in this year’s competition with 93 nominations. For the second consecutive year, it was followed by Jamaica’s RJRGLEANER Communications Group, which secured 78 nominations across its television, radio, print and digital platforms.

Jamaica once again led all participating jurisdictions with 105 nominated entries from seven organisations, including returning broadcaster CVM TV and new entrants Jamaica Information Service, the University of Technology, Jamaica, and The University of the West Indies, Mona.

Trinidad and Tobago recorded 102 nominations from eight organisations and individuals, the largest number of entrants from any single country. Leading contributors included Guardian Media Group, Express Newspaper, CCN TV6 and TTT Limited.

Belize matched Barbados with 95 nominations overall. In Barbados, the Nation Publishing Company led the field with 37 nominations, followed by the Barbados Government Information Service with 22 and Barbados Today with 12. New Barbadian entrants included Plan A Productions, the Barbados Community College and Capital Media HD 99.3.

Host country Guyana achieved a national record with 37 nominations from three media organisations. National Communications Network (NCN) led the way with 19 nominations, followed by News Room Inc. with 15 and the Guyana Chronicle with three.

The Awards also saw a strong return from the French-speaking Caribbean, with digital publisher Riches Karayib securing 32 nominations. The Cayman Islands returned to the competition with Compass TV earning 31 nominations, while the Cayman Islands Government Department of Communications also appeared among the nominees.

Other territories represented include Suriname, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Colombia’s San Andrés Island, Cuba, St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, The Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands.

Recognition of Caribbean Excellence

Winners of the 37th CBU Media Awards will be announced during the Awards Gala on August 19, 2026, in Georgetown, Guyana, as part of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union’s 57th Annual General Assembly (AGA 57).

To support participation in the event, nominees will once again receive a waiver of the conference registration fee and may obtain the necessary discount code by contacting the CBU Secretariat.

The complete list of nominees and registration information for AGA 57 are available on the CBU website.

As anticipation builds towards the Awards Gala, the nominees represent the breadth, diversity and quality of Caribbean journalism and broadcasting, demonstrating the continued strength of indigenous media across the region.