Nicole Thomas-Clarke made it three in a row, retaining her Calypso Monarch crown at Tobago Carnival 2026.
Ten contestants took part in Tuesday’s competition, which drew patrons to Market Square in Scarborough for the fifth edition of the event.
The audience was treated to powerful vocals, strong lyrical content and thought-provoking performances as the calypsonians tackled issues affecting Tobago, showcasing the art form’s tradition of social commentary.
However, it was Thomas-Clarke who secured her hat-trick victory with her song “Respect”.
She was elated to have maintained her title for a third time, taking home a $100,000 prize.
“I had to take vacation from work, preparation, rehearsal. I had to put in all that work to make sure I could attain this crown for the third consecutive time.”
Wendy Garrick placed second with her environmentally-themed song, “Borrowed Time.”
“I am totally satisfied with the performance. Everything fell in place, everything was excellent. I thank God for his mercies and his guidance through the performance, but I am totally satisfied.”
Despite not taking the top spot, Garrick praised the standard of the competition.
“It had a stiff, stiff competition tonight. Stiff competition. The show was at a different level. This was one of the best monarchs that we saw in Tobago.”
Chevelle Williams placed third with her rendition of “All Hands on Deck”, a pointed commentary on the breakdown of society.
“I tried my best to embody not only what the lyrics said but to feel the passion and emotion of the song, not only as the performer but actually as a mother.”
The Calypso Monarch competition was dedicated to the Mighty Sparrow and Brother Valentino, both of whom recently passed away. Calypsonians from Tobago performed renditions of their popular songs at the competition.