Tam Tam Wins Tobago Soca Titans, Earns 2027 Soca Monarch Semifinal Spot

By Dante Jackson | Caribbean EMagazine

Tam Tam has captured Tobago’s 2026 Soca Titans crown with “Follow Me,” edging defending champion Verrse by a single point at Market Square in Scarborough on Wednesday, October 28.

The victory earned him the $75,000 first prize and ended Verrse’s two-year reign. Kedane O’Connor placed third with “Celebration,” as ten finalists competed before a crowd of hundreds.

Tam Tam’s winning performance drew on his Jab Jab identity, with veteran entertainer Marvin Lewis joining him onstage. Speaking to TTT News afterward, the new champion described returning with renewed determination after finishing third with “Lean” in 2025.

He also connected his musical direction to his grandfather’s Grenadian roots, explaining that a childhood fear of Jab Jab had developed into an appreciation for the tradition.

Verrse, who is Tam Tam’s cousin, welcomed his achievement and acknowledged the work behind the win. Machel Montano served as a guest judge and praised the quality of the night’s performances.

A Direct Route to International Soca Monarch

The evening brought another breakthrough: automatic qualification for the semifinals of the 2027 International Soca Monarch competition.

Zorisha Hackett, Tobago’s Secretary of Tourism, Antiquities and Creative Industries, announced that an agreement with the competition’s management gives the Tobago Soca Titans winner a guaranteed semifinal place.

For Tam Tam, who said he had already planned to enter, the announcement provides a direct route into the next stage of competition. He told TTT News that his focus would now turn to reaching the final and representing Tobago proudly.

Hackett described the arrangement as an opportunity to bring Tobago’s developing soca talent to a wider audience. With Tobago Carnival in its fifth year, she pointed to the island’s progress toward a distinctive musical identity.

Tam Tam now carries both the local crown and an opportunity to take “Follow Me” beyond the Tobago stage, with a place among next year’s International Soca Monarch semifinalists secured.

Reporting source: TTT News.