64 Nominees Announced for Icon Awards
The Virgin Islands Icon Awards has revealed 64 nominees across 13 diverse categories for its upcoming 2026 ceremony. This year's event will feature an expanded format, honoring both active nominees and lifetime community contributors across the Territory.
The Virgin Islands Icon Awards has officially announced 64 nominees across 13 categories for its 2026 ceremony, celebrating individuals and organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to the Territory. The nominees represent a broad spectrum of Virgin Islands life, highlighting excellence in sports development, youth entrepreneurship, heavy equipment operations, make-up artistry, visual arts, humanitarian work, agriculture, and dedicated service to the Sister Islands.
According to founder and executive producer Kareem Nelson Hull, the finalists were selected following an extensive review by the Assembly of Judges. The panel evaluated hundreds of public submissions submitted over several months before narrowing the field to five finalists in each category.
Hull noted that this year's slate of nominees reflects the remarkable depth of talent, legacy, and community impact throughout the British Virgin Islands, reminding residents of the everyday greatness existing within the Territory. In an exciting development for 2026, the awards program is introducing a new dual-honour format.
The ceremony will celebrate both current nominees, known as Icons, alongside distinguished lifetime honorees, designated as Legends. While the Icons are chosen through public nominations and will proceed to a voting stage, the Legends are selected through historical research and prior nominations to celebrate longstanding figures who have shaped the Territory over generations.
The Legends division will cover 12 specialized areas, including education, youth development, tourism, health and fitness, media, religion, and nation building. Established to elevate national pride and foster community recognition, the Virgin Islands Icon Awards continues to serve as a premier platform for spotlighting the social, cultural, and economic advancement of the Virgin Islands.
Primary source: JTV