T&T – Ultimate Soca Championship Show Canceled for This Year

2026-01-26 - 15:30

Ultimate Soca Champion CEO Jerome “Rome” Precilla has confirmed that the popular competition will not be staged this year, citing economic challenges and the absence of government support. In WhatsApp responses on January 22, Precilla told Newsday that organizers had reached out to the Ministry of Culture and Community Development and the National Carnival Commission (NCC), requesting meetings to discuss the future of the event. “We knew the economic climate was not the same, and we offered to work with them in terms of a new budget and to operate within whatever they could afford to help keep the project alive, based on the successes we had last year,” Precilla said. However, he explained that the organization did not receive any response from the ministry, and as time drew closer, it became increasingly difficult to move forward. “In order for us to put on a proper product of the standard we delivered last year, we decided not to do it this year, in the hope that next year we can get the support from the ministry and the NCC to put the project on again,” he added. Precilla emphasized that the competition plays a critical role in the Carnival landscape, particularly in developing emerging artistes. He pointed to several success stories from the previous season, including Sucre, lead singer of Evolution Band, and Anika Berry, who gained widespread recognition and popularity following her appearance on the show. He also highlighted artistes such as Christo and Christina James, among others, who benefited from the platform, noting that established performers also saw increased opportunities, including more bookings outside Trinidad and Tobago. “These platforms give artistes the showcase they need to display their talent,” Precilla said. “From the data we have, the show was viewed more than one million times across social media and television broadcasts throughout the season.” He admitted that organizers were deeply disappointed by the cancellation and noted that many artistes had been reaching out to inquire about the competition. Newsday first reported in December that the 2026 staging of the event was uncertain. Precilla explained that while several private organizations expressed willingness to assist, a production of this scale ultimately requires government backing. Organizers remain hopeful that discussions with the ministry and the NCC will resume, allowing the competition to return early next year. The Ultimate Soca Champion was introduced for Carnival 2025, filling a long-standing gap following years without the International Soca Monarch competition. Precilla added that the platform helped many artistes gain both local and international recognition. The 2025 edition operated on an overall budget of TT$8 million and culminated with Grenadian artiste Akim “Blaka Dan” Ogiste being crowned Ultimate Soca Champion.