Caption: Terri Lyons

Summary

• Terri Lyons won the 2026 Calypso Monarch competition on Sunday night, beating several former champions.
• She earned the $1 million prize and a new vehicle with her performance of “Blessing,” securing her second title in six years.
• Rivaldo London placed second with “Water Thicker,” while Samraj “Rikki Jai” Jaimungal finished third with “Doh Spoil Meh Name.”
• Defending monarch Helon Francis placed sixth; TV viewers experienced an audio interruption during his performance on TTT.
• Republic Bank Exodus Steel Orchestra retained the Panorama title by one point over BP Renegades, as Carnival moves toward Road March and the final two days of festivities.

 

TERRI LYONS won the 2026 Calypso Monarch competition on Sunday night, defeating at least three other former winners as Carnival activities entered their final two days of revelry.

Lyons, the daughter of soca artiste Austin Lyons (“Super Blue”), won the one-million-dollar cash prize and a new vehicle for her performance of “Blessing,” following up on her 2020 victory at the Dimanche Gras show at the Queen’s Park Savannah early Monday morning. Lyons was the clear favourite on the night; her spiritual song earned a lengthy standing ovation as she copped her second title in six years.

In second place was this year’s National Action Cultural Committee Young King, Rivaldo London, who sang “Water Thicker,” while nine-time Chutney Soca Monarch Samraj “Rikki Jai” Jaimungal placed third with “Doh Spoil Meh Name.”

Defending monarch Helon Francis, a crowd favourite, placed sixth with his biting political commentary, “Doh Forget.” His performance hit a snag for viewers of the state-owned Trinidad and Tobago Television (TTT) when the audio was interrupted, forcing the hosts to later apologise.

Meanwhile, Republic Bank Exodus Steel Orchestra defended its Panorama title, playing an arrangement by Antigua-based Terrence “BJ” Marcelle of the song “Cyah Behave.” Exodus edged BP Renegades Steel Orchestra by a single point, 289 to 288, with Nutrien Silver Stars one point further back in third.

“Any win is a big win, far less a back-to-back,” Exodus manager Ainsworth Mohammed said early Sunday morning as the results were announced.

“We felt good about it. We were looking good and just hoping to execute well. I always tell people in Panorama that the final eight minutes on stage is everything,” he added.

Carnival celebrations continue with the parade of costumes on Monday and the street jump-up on Tuesday. The highlight will be the Road March competition, featuring veteran singers Machel Montano and Bunji Garlin against Aaron “Voice” St. Louis, the youngest International Soca Monarch winner, whose tune “Cyah Behave” is among the favourites. (CMC)