With the clock winding down on the final round of voting for the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards, all eyes from the Reggae and Dancehall community are on Jamaica. Voting officially closes today, Monday, January 5, 2026, and when the curtains rise on music’s biggest night next month, one of five Jamaican artistes will walk away with the coveted Best Reggae Album golden gramophone. From roots revivalists to a lone dancehall heavyweight, the category reflects the full breadth of Jamaica’s global musical influence. As pundits debate outcomes and fans rally behind their favourites, the final decision now rests solely with Grammy voters.
The nominees — Lila Iké (Treasure Self Love), Vybz Kartel (Heart & Soul), Keznamdi (BLXXD & FYAH), Mortimer (From Within) and Jesse Royal (No Place Like Home) — represent a generational and stylistic cross-section of contemporary reggae. For first-time nominees Lila Iké, Keznamdi and Mortimer, the nod signals a career-defining breakthrough, while Kartel and Jesse Royal secure their second Grammy recognition. Kartel notably stands as the only dancehall act in a field dominated by roots-inspired projects, injecting raw edge and cultural contrast into the category.
Keznamdi’s BLXXD & FYAH emerged as one of reggae’s breakout albums of the year, debuting at No.1 on the US iTunes Reggae Albums Chart and earning praise for its independent, pan-African vision. Lila Iké described her nomination as a mix of “pride, shock and joy,” crediting her creative village for bringing Treasure Self Love to life. Mortimer’s From Within has resonated deeply for its spiritual honesty, while Jesse Royal’s No Place Like Home carries added emotional weight following a near-fatal experience just days before the album’s release.
For Vybz Kartel, Heart & Soul represents another milestone in a remarkable post-incarceration resurgence. Reflecting on his second consecutive nomination, the dancehall icon expressed gratitude that his artistic contributions continue to resonate with the Recording Academy. With voting now closed, anticipation builds ahead of the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards, set for Sunday, February 1, 2026, live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Regardless of who claims the golden gramophone, Jamaica’s cultural dominance is already firmly etched into Grammy history.
