Machel Montano makes history with record 12th Road March title

Machel Montano has claimed a record-breaking 12th Road March title with his song Encore, surpassing the legendary Lord Kitchener to become the most successful Road March champion in Trinidad and Tobago's history.

Machel Montano won the 2026 National TUCO Road March Competition with his song Encore, which was played 171 times at designated judging points during the two-day Carnival celebration. The results were officially announced by TUCO President Ainsley King. Aaron "Voice" St Louis placed second with Cyah Behave, played 127 times, while Bunji Garlin (Ian Alvarez) finished third with Roadman, played 97 times. The victory gives Montano 12 Road March titles, breaking his tie with the late Lord Kitchener (Alwyn Roberts) and making him the all-time record holder.

Other major Carnival 2026 competition results included Savita Singh winning the Chutney-Soca Monarch with The Ring, Terri Lyons claiming National Calypso Monarch with Blessings, Republic Bank Exodus winning Panorama, and Lost Tribe winning Large Band and overall Band of the Year with Island Circus.

Montano's 12th Road March title is more than a personal achievement — it redefines the record book of Trinidad and Tobago's most culturally significant musical competition. Surpassing Lord Kitchener, whose legacy loomed over calypso and soca for decades, signals a generational shift in Caribbean music history.

The dominance of Encore — played 44 more times than the second-place song — underscores Montano's unmatched ability to command the road and connect with masqueraders.

"Montano's Encore was played 171 times during the two-day judging period — 44 more times than the second-place song and 74 more than the third-place entry."

— TUCO official Road March results, announced by President Ainsley King

Government celebration of cultural milestone: Culture Minister Benjamin hailed Montano's achievement as a historic milestone and a testament to his consistency, talent, and undeniable impact on Carnival culture, noting that he continues to raise the bar and unite the nation through music.

Official validation of fair competition: TUCO President King officially confirmed the results and affirmed that there is nothing wrong with Road March contenders moving from truck to truck to perform their songs, addressing any concerns about the competition's integrity.

Cultural pride and national identity: Multiple regional outlets framed the win within the broader context of Carnival as the Greatest Show on Earth — a vibrant display of culture, food, music, and the warmth of the people, representing love, unity, and pure happiness.

"This historic milestone is a testament to his consistency, talent, and undeniable impact on our Carnival culture. Year after year, he continues to raise the bar and unite the nation through music."

— Michelle Benjamin, Trinidad and Tobago Culture Minister, via Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC)

There are records, and then there are legacies. Machel Montano's 12th Road March title belongs squarely in the latter category. To surpass Lord Kitchener — a name synonymous with the very soul of calypso — is to write yourself into the permanent fabric of Caribbean cultural history.

What makes this achievement remarkable is not just the number but the span. Montano has remained the people's champion on the road across generations of revellers and shifting musical tastes. Encore's dominance — 171 plays to Voice's 127 — was not a narrow victory but a coronation.

For the wider Caribbean, this is a reminder of the extraordinary cultural capital that Trinidad and Tobago Carnival represents. Montano's record should be celebrated not just as a personal triumph but as evidence that homegrown Caribbean art forms continue to produce legends on a global stage. The road has spoken, and its verdict is historic.