The 2026 Grammy season has officially launched, and reggae fans and industry watchers will want to keep a close eye on the Best Reggae Album category. In what looks set to be a competitive year, a total of 73 albums have been submitted for consideration in the reggae field indicating a slight fall off from last year’s 75 entries.
This year’s roster features a strong showing from Jamaican artists, with names spanning the reggae and dancehall musical sets. Among the submissions are Vybz Kartel’s Heart & Soul, Likkle Addi’s Time Is Now, Lila Iké’s Treasure Self Love, 450’s Pieces of Me, Valiant’s Prove Them Wrong, Charly Black’s Good Times, Cham’s Sherlock, and Ding Dong’s From Ding Dong to the World.
Notably, the field also includes an AI-assisted project: Dem Can’t Stop My Joy (Rastafari Forever) by Adrian Donsome Hanson and Forever Roots Band, this is the first known album in this submission list to incorporate AI support in its creation although “AI-assisted” is still a developing label. This nod points to expanding definitions of artistry in reggae and could spark debate among voters and fans alike.
SCHEDULE
The first round of voting opened on October 3, 2025, and will run through October 15. During this phase, eligible Recording Academy voters will cast ballots to select the official nominees in each category. The slate of nominees is scheduled to be announced on November 7, 2025. Those nominees then face a second round of voting from December 12, 2025, to January 5, 2026 before the winners are revealed at the Grammy ceremony on February 1, 2026.
Reggae Album Submissions
1. 10Tik – Soul of the City
2. 450 – Pieces of Me
3. Adrian Donsome & Forever Rootz Band – Dem Can’t Stop My Joy (Rastafari Forever)
4. Baby Cham – Sherlock
5. Black Pearl Livingston – Your Richness Is Life
6. Cali P – Infinity
7. Charly Black – Good Times
8. Chili Guy – Chili Island
9. Craigy T & DJ Frodo – Unload
10. Ding Dong – From Ding Dong To World Ding
MORE
11. Don Dada – Forward We Continue
12. E-Dee – Grateful
13. F.Y.A.H – Free Your Authentic Heart
14. Flying Vipers – Off World
15. Fortunate Youth – Love For The Music
16. Glen Washington – Just Giving Thanks
17. Groundation – Candle Burning
18. Hector Roots Lewis – Cosmic Roots
19. I Octane – God & I
20. Irie Souljah – World Citizen
AND MORE
21. Israel Vibration – Reggae Music Never Dies
22. Jahmiel – Nirvana
23. J Boog – Heartbeat
24. Jesse Royal – No Place Like Home
25. Keith & Tex – Gun Life
26. Kenton Emerson & Andy Kravitz – Starlight Reggae
27. Keznamdi – Blxxd & Fyah
28. Kiara – The Odyssey
29. King Jammy’s Unites The Nations with Dub
30. Kolohe Kai – What Aloha Means
31. Konshens – Pool Party
32. Kristina Alicia – Love Manifesto
33. Kumar & The 18th Parallel – Tales of Reality
34. Likkle Addi – Time Is Now
35. Lila Iké – Treasure Self Love
36. Lutan Fyah – Strength & Resilience
37. Malie Donn – The Grand Rising
38. Minna LaFortune – Dance With Me (Vol II)
39. Mojo Morgan – Jamaica Love
40. Mortimer – From Within
EVEN MORE
41. Mr. Vegas – Ghetto Reggae
42. Nattali Rize – Liberate
43. Niney The Observer – Niney the Observer
44. Pachyman – Another Place
45. Raphael Tate – All of Me
46. Ras Mista Fyah – Infinity
47. Rik Jam – Destiny
48. Royal Blu – Spain Root
49. Shasha Marley – Africa Rise
50. Sensamotion – Feel It All Around
THE LIST KEEPS GOING
51. Seven Suns – Many Feathers
52. Shaneil Muir – Echoes Of Her
53. Sherwin Gardner – Find Me Here Vol.2 EP
54. Shwayze – Shwaycation
55. Skillibeng – International EP
56. Squash – Hate Being Famous
57. Teflon Young King – Life Scriptures
58. The Addis Revolution – Paradise
59. The Meditations – Live It To Know It
60. The Movement – Visions
61. Timmy Love – Love and Unity
62. Valiant – Prove Them Wrong
63. Various Artists: Africa Rise Riddim
64. Various Artists: Brooklyn Riddim
65. Various Artists: Country Man Riddim
66. Various Artists: Clive Hunt presents… Fields of Gold – A Reggae Tribute To Sting
67. Various Artists: Gruesome Act Riddim
68. Various Artists: Highway Rough Riddim
69. Various Artists: Island Waves Vol. 2
AND FINALLY
70. Various Artists: DJ Mac – Ups & Downs
71. Vybz Kartel – Heart & Soul
72. Yeza & Rorystonelove – Star of the East
73. Zamunda – My Truth My Journey
