Machel Montano won the 2026 Road March. His hit song "Encore" dominated Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival celebrations, securing him a record-breaking 12th title.

Victory Details

Announced by TUCO President Ainsley King on February 17-18, 2026, at Queen's Park Savanna, "Encore" racked up 171 plays during the official judging period. This edged out strong contenders and made history, surpassing Montano's previous tie with calypso legend Lord Kitchener. The win came amid buzzing Carnival Tuesday vibes at the Socadrome, where Montano performed triumphantly.

Top Contenders

  • 1st: Machel Montano - "Encore" (171 plays) : A high-energy anthem that lit up the roads.
  • 2nd: Aaron "Voice" St. Louis - "Cyar Behave" (127 plays) : Close runner-up with infectious vibes.
  • 3rd: Bunji Garlin - "Road Man" (97 plays) : Solid third, keeping the competition fierce.

For context, Road March crowns the most-played soca song during Carnival's massive street parades—think miles of costumed revelers, trucks blasting tunes, and non-stop energy from Port of Spain outward.

Montano's Legacy

This victory adds to an epic list:

  • 2026: Encore
  • 2025: Pardy
  • 2019: Famalay
  • And more back to 2011.

Fans on Facebook and Instagram erupted with congratulations, calling it a "historic moment" for soca. Speculation pre-Carnival had pitted "Encore" against tracks like "Pensioner's Anthem" by Ninja, but Montano's staying power prevailed—yet again proving why he's the King of the Road.

Trending Buzz

Forums lit up post-announcement: "Machel made history!" trended alongside runner-up shoutouts. As of February 19, 2026, clips from YouTube contender playlists and Guardian.co.tt reports keep the hype alive, with many predicting encore performances at fetes.

TL;DR: Machel Montano's "Encore" is your 2026 Road March champ with 171 plays—his 12th win ever.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.