Kevin Downswell leads Sterling Gospel Music Awards noms

Kevin Downswell tops the list of nominees for the 2026 Sterling Gospel Music Awards. The full list of nominees was revealed on Monday via the event’s official Instagram page. The acclaimed gospel recording artiste, minister and producer received six nominations in the multiple categories including Male Artiste to the Year, Collaboration of the Year, Local Hit of the Year, and Local Hit Producer of the Year. Johnmark Wiggan and Gilead Collective followed with five nominations each, while Prince Saj received four. Rondell Positive, Trinidadian gospel/reggae artiste Positive, Sherwin Gardner, Rhoda Isabella, Jermaine Edwards, Levy’s Heritage and broadcasters Jucal Dyer and Mical Forsythe picked up two nominations a piece.

For its 2026 staging, Sterling Gospel Music Awards (SGMA) will see a change of format from a physical, live ceremony to a national television broadcast on Television Jamaica ( TVJ ) on Sunday, October 18 during the Heroes’ holiday weekend. Johnmark Wiggan (Photo: Karl Mclarty) “So this year we’re not having a physical staging... we’ll be doing a television broadcast on TVJ that will also stream via TVJ ’s YouTube platform as well as Sterling YouTube channel. It will also be available regionally and worldwide to the international market,” Basillia Barnaby Cuff, organiser and founder of the awards told the Jamaica Observer . She added: “We are seeking to expose the brand Sterling to a much wider audience and for year 10 we decided to pivot and more in that direction. ” This year will see the introduction of a Digital Impact Award. The winner will be voted on by the public. The nominees in that category are Monique McLeggon, Samijo, Stephen The Christian, Kyleon Thomas, and Sheena Lyn Hanson. Said Barnaby Cuff: “This award is an award for persons in the…