Keznamdi A Frontrunner For 2026 Best Reggae Album GRAMMY

Music executive and long-time Grammy voter Alexx Anteus has named Jamaican singer Keznamdi as the clear favourite to win the 2026 GRAMMY Award for Best Reggae Album, arguing that the artist’s 2025 release Blxxd & Fyah represents the year’s standout contribution to the genre.

“Keznamdi, by far, delivered the strongest reggae album of 2025,” Anteus said, adding that the singer has “unquestionably earned his place” alongside Chronixx, Kabaka Pyramid, Protoje, Koffee, Lila Iké and Jesse Royal as one of the leading ambassadors of the new generation of reggae.”

Anteus also pointed to the artist’s reception among Recording Academy voters during the ballot period. According to his account, Keznamdi attracted genuine respect and support from voters beyond the reggae and dancehall categories.— something he believes underlines the album’s reach and artistic credibility.

“Based on my observations and direct interactions during the GRAMMY voting season, he garnered genuine respect and support from voters—including many outside the reggae and dancehall categories—underscoring the album’s reach and impact beyond genre boundaries.”

All-Jamaican field for 2026 Best Reggae Album

The nominees for Best Reggae Album at the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards, announced in November 2025, form an entirely Jamaican line-up:

• Vybz Kartel — Heart & Soul

• Lila Iké — Treasure Self Love

• Keznamdi — Blxxd & Fyah

• Mortimer — From Within

• Jesse Royal — No Place Like Home

Lila Iké is the sole female nominee, while Vybz Kartel stands as the only dancehall-forward act in a field otherwise dominated by contemporary roots-leaning projects.

Lila Iké

A Historic Milestone Within Reach For Vybz Kartel

Should Kartel prevail, he would become only the fourth dancehall artist to secure the GRAMMY for Best Reggae Album. To date, Shabba Ranks — with As Raw As Ever in 1992 and X-Tra Naked in 1993 — and Beenie Man, who won with Art & Life in 2001, remain the only clearly dancehall-centred winners.

Artists such as Damian “Jr Gong” Marley and Buju Banton, whose catalogues bridge reggae and dancehall, have also claimed the category. Marley has amassed five GRAMMYs, including wins for Welcome to Jamrock (2005) and Stony Hill (2019), while Welcome to Jamrock also became the first reggae track to win outside the reggae field when it took Best Urban/Alternative Performance. Buju Banton won Best Reggae Album in 2011 for Before the Dawn.

GRAMMY calendar and ceremony

The 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards recognise music released between 31 August 2024 and 30 August 2025. Key dates include:

• First-round voting: 3–15 October 2025

• Nominee announcement: 7 November 2025

• Final voting: 12 December 2025–5 January 2026

• Awards ceremony: 1 February 2026, live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and broadcast on CBS