The Carnival Development Corporation has officially announced the roster of calypsonians who will advance from the Preliminaries to compete in the 2026 Calypso Semi-Finals.
The semi-final event is scheduled to take place on June 26th, 2026, at Victoria Park in Kingstown, with performances commencing at 8:00 pm. The news release, dated June 16th, 2026, was issued to all media houses and signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Carnival Development Corporation.
A total of 22 calypsonians representing various tents have secured their spots in the semi-finals. The competitors and their chosen renditions are:
- Alvin “Zion-I” Dennie (On Tour) performing “Ah feel proud”
- Bernard “Reality I” White (Upstage) performing “Ban”
- Cecile King – Lil Bit (Upstage) performing “Liberation year”
- Chanique (Dynamites) performing “Lift me up”
- Dereck “Man Sick” Alexander (On Tour) performing “Why?”
- Elvis “Abijah” Abbey (On Tour) performing “Ah done forget”
- Glenford “Azara” Charles (On Tour) performing “All hand on deck”
- Grantley “Ipa” Constance (Calypso Cabaret) performing “My Party lose”
- Grennon Nero (Upstage) performing “Save the youths”
- Johnny “Rebel” Hall (Graduates) performing “We carnival music”
- Kemmy Christopher (Dynamites) performing “Hope”
- Kendal “Wasay” Williams (Graduates) performing “Coming again”
- Kenley Baptiste – Lyrical Melody (Upstage) performing “I am a Vincy”
- Kenneth “Vibrating Scakes” Alleyne (On Tour) performing “Havana”
- Kingsley “Hero” Roberts (Graduates) performing “Hook in the gill”
- Lornette “Fya Empress” Nedd (Upstage) performing “De Search”
- Marvo “Marvolous Marvo” Morgan (On Tour) performing “Keep on trying”
- Michael Ollivierre (Upstage) performing “Give them a chance”
- Robert “Patches” Knights (Calypso Cabaret) performing “Bull Wood”
- Shaunelle McKenzie (Upstage) performing “At we doorstep”
- Shena Collis (Upstage) performing “New chef in the kitchen”
- Utamo “Bongo Prime” Rose (On Tour) performing “The Messenger”
In addition to the main lineup, two calypsonians have been selected to serve as reserves for the competition. Abuzanimah “Abuza” Cyrus from the Graduates tent will be on standby with the rendition “Dress and shirt up,” alongside Carlos Providence – Rejector from the Dynamites tent with the song “SVG Is”.