BRAMPTON, ONTARIO — October 2, 2026 — Canada’s reggae and dancehall community came together at The Rose Theatre Brampton on September 27 for the Third Annual Reggae North Music Awards (RNMA), an evening that celebrated the artists, musicians, DJs, producers, songwriters, broadcasters and cultural contributors helping to shape the country’s reggae ecosystem.
Presented by the Reggae North Cultural Association in a Community Arts Partnership with The Rose, the awards have become a platform for recognizing the breadth of reggae and related musical genres being created, performed and promoted in Canada.
The 2026 edition brought together an extensive roster of Canadian talent; while also welcoming Jamaican reggae star Duane Stephenson, whose appearance added an international dimension to an awards program firmly rooted in Canada’s music and cultural community. With more than 20 award categories and a lineup of live performances, the evening demonstrated the range of talent working across reggae, dancehall, gospel, fusion and related genres.
Recognizing Canada’s Reggae Talent
Veteran artist Jay Douglas received the prestigious Living Legend Award, acknowledging his longstanding contribution to reggae music and culture.
The Group of the Year award went to The Human Rights, while Memberz Syndicate received Album of the Year for “Set Me Free.”
Ammoye was named Entertainer of the Year, while the vocal categories recognized I Noah as Male Vocalist of the Year and Jurney Star as Female Vocalist of the Year.
The awards also recognized the important role played by radio and DJs in building audiences for reggae. Wayne Vernon was named Radio DJ of the Year, with Tugstar and Phenique receiving the Male and Female DJ of the Year awards respectively.
Recognizing the music behind the music
The awards extended beyond performers to recognize songwriters, producers, selectors and other contributors who are essential to the reggae ecosystem.
DJ Kemo was named Producer of the Year, while King Klepto received the Sound/Clash/Dancehall Selector of the Year award. DJ Flare was recognized as Club/Party/Dancehall Selector of the Year.
The awards also reflected the increasingly diverse musical landscape surrounding contemporary reggae.
Samora and Ammoye won Trap/Fusion Single of the Year (Female) for “More Reggae (Funk It Up),” while Tugstar won the male category for “Cucumba.”
In the dancehall categories, Neto Yuth and Anthony B received Dancehall Song of the Year (Male) for “So Long,” while Kae Music won the female category for “Tic Toc Pon It.”
Sone G was recognized with the Gospel Song of the Year award for “Rescue Me.”
The Video of the Year honour went to Jazmin Headley featuring Richie Stephenson and Bounty Killa for “The Fire Inside.”
The Reggae Single of the Year (Female) award went to Eddie Bullen featuring Tasha T, Mel Dube and Kandice Kash for “Show Us the Way.”
Together, the categories reflected a reggae community that extends well beyond the traditional boundaries of the genre.
A Showcase of Canadian Performers
The awards were not only about recognition. The evening also provided a stage for live performances from a diverse group of artists.
The lineup included Tony Anthony, Zackious Cooper, Tugstar, Andru Branch, Celena, Sone G, Paris Ivy, Jazmin Headley, Onique.
The performances showcased different sides of contemporary reggae and dancehall. The event also demonstrated the role that community-based awards can play in creating opportunities for artists whose work is often developed outside Canada’s largest commercial music platforms.
Connecting Canada to the International Reggae Community
Although the primary focus of RNMA is Canada’s reggae community, the 2026 ceremony also highlighted the longstanding connection between Canadian reggae and the international reggae movement.
Jamaican reggae star Duane Stephenson became the first reggae star from outside Canada to perform at the Reggae North Music Awards.
Stephenson was also named the inaugural recipient of the Reggae North Ambassador Award, while Mayor Patrick Brown presented him with a City of Brampton citation recognizing his contribution to reggae music.
His half-hour performance, which included songs such as “Cottage in Negril,” “August Town,” “Fool for You” and “Ghetto Pain,” provided one of the evening’s international highlights.
Reggae, Culture and Community in Brampton
Through its Community Arts Partnership with The Rose, RNMA brings a distinctly reggae-focused celebration into one of Brampton’s established cultural spaces.
For artists and audiences alike, the awards represent more than a single night of entertainment. They provide a gathering point for a community that includes performers, broadcasters, DJs, producers, promoters, entrepreneurs and fans.
Support From Sponsors and Community Partners
The growth of the Reggae North Music Awards has also been supported by businesses, organizations and community partners.
Sponsors and supporters of the 2026 awards included Tasjay Productions, Humanity Ova Vanity (HOV), Grace Kennedy, Caribbean Queen Jerk, CJ’s Punch, Flow 987, Coca-Cola Canada, Long & McQuade, Reggae North Radio and The Rose.
Looking Ahead
The Third Annual Reggae North Music Awards highlighted the depth of Canada’s reggae and dancehall community and the variety of people contributing to its continued development.
As Reggae North looks toward future editions, the third annual ceremony at The Rose Theatre marked another step in building a dedicated platform for reggae music and culture in Canada.
For one night in Brampton, the spotlight was firmly on the Canadian reggae community — its artists, its music, its cultural roots and the people working to ensure that reggae continues to have a strong and recognized place on Canada’s cultural stage.