We keep it simple. To be eligible for the 2026 Awards, you must meet two primary criteria:
1. Residency & Identity
Status: You must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident.
Presence: You must have resided in Canada for at least 6 months of the eligibility period.
Verification: Be ready to provide a birth certificate, passport, or PR card upon request.
2. The Music (Release Window)
Window: Your music must have been released between November 1, 2024, and November 1, 2025.
Availability: The product (Single, EP, Video, or Album) must be available for retail or online sale in Canada.
Proof: National distribution is not required, but you must provide proof of the public release date.
The Road to the Trophy: Our Process
The RNMA follows a rigorous, multi-stage adjudication process to ensure the highest standards of integrity.
Stage 1: Submissions (March 1 – May 1)
Entries can be submitted by Artists, Producers, Managers, Labels, or Radio Stations.
Stage 2: The Shortlist (Top 10)
Our Nomination Selection Committee—composed of industry experts—verifies all entries and selects the Top 10 strongest contenders in each category.
Stage 3: The Nominees (Top 5)
A specialist Jury Panel reviews the Top 10. They narrow the field down to the Final 5 Nominees, whose names are released to the public.
Stage 4: The Winners
The same expert jurors adjudicate the final five to select a winner. To maintain excitement and secrecy, results are only shared with the Board of Directors and are strictly embargoed until the Gala Ceremony.
Key Policies & Procedures
Category Integrity: The RNMA reserves the right to withdraw a category if it receives fewer than 5 eligible entries. In such cases, entries may be moved to the next most appropriate category.
Confidentiality: Vote counts are strictly confidential. Numbers are never disclosed to the public or nominees to maintain the professional standing of all participants.
Juror Excellence: Our judges are recruited for their deep knowledge of specific Reggae and Dancehall sub-genres. They are responsible for both tabulating ballots and providing final adjudication.
FAQ
Submissions are “open-source,” meaning they can be submitted by the Artist directly, or by their Manager, Label, Publicist, Producer, or even a Radio Station. However, we recommend coordinating to ensure only one entry is submitted per category.
To be eligible for the 2026 RNMA, you must have resided in Canada for at least six months during the eligibility period (Nov 1, 2024 – Nov 1, 2025). If you are a Canadian citizen but have been touring or living abroad for the entire year, you may not qualify for this cycle..
While we strongly encourage all nominees to join us at the Rose Theatre on September 27, your win is based on your musical merit, not your attendance. We will announce the winner regardless, and the trophy will be held for you.
Yes. You may submit a track to as many relevant categories as apply (e.g., Song of the Year and Best Music Video). However, the Jury reserves the right to move a submission if they feel it is better suited for a different genre category.