Rosalía’s album Lux was named album of the year at the 27th annual Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony held live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The Spanish artist opened the evening with an emotive medley of tracks from the record, including La Rumba Del Perdón, La Perla, and Dios Es Un Stalker. She was joined on stage by dancers wearing halos, setting a celestial tone for the proceedings. Her song La Perla also took home the award for song of the year, a victory she shared with her collaborators, the American urban sierreño trio Yahritza Y Su Esencia.
The night was defined by a historic recognition for Daddy Yankee, who was named the person of the year. As the first Latin urbano artist to receive this distinction, he delivered a high-energy performance that treated the stage like a stadium floor. The Puerto Rican star performed a series of his biggest hits, including Gasolina, Despacito, and Con Calma. He was joined on stage by a lineup of guests that included Bizarrap, Bad Gyal, Feid, Jay Wheeler, French Montana, LL Cool J, and Diljit Dosanjh.
Janet Jackson presented the person of the year honor to Daddy Yankee, describing the moment as one of admiration and respect. In his acceptance speech, the artist emphasized the size and significance of his homeland. He stated that Puerto Rico is not small, noting that it is only the map that is small. The performance and award highlighted his status as a leading figure in the reggaeton genre.
The ceremony was hosted by actor, producer, and musician Roselyn Sánchez and broadcast on Univision, UniMás, Galavisión, and ViX. The musical lineup for the evening was extensive, featuring a blend of traditional and contemporary styles. Karol G performed a música mexicana ballad accompanied by a full orchestra and twelve mariachis, while Mon Laferte delivered a soulful rendition of Femme Fatale.
Other notable performances included Silvana Estrada, who played her signature Venezuelan cuatro, and Kany García, who performed an acoustic, aflamencado single. Jorge Drexler offered a theatrical interpretation of his song Las Palabras, and Argentine rapper Milo J performed alongside the folk icon Gustavo Santaolalla. The audience also enjoyed high-energy sets from Carín León, Juanes, and Vivir Quintana, as well as a medley from Brazilian superstar Anitta that mixed funk, samba, and reggae in multiple languages.
The show featured two significant tributes to late music legends. The first honored Mexican singer-songwriter José Alfredo Jiménez, with performances by The Warning, Reik, and Camila Fernández. The second tribute was dedicated to Willie Colón, the architect of urban salsa music who passed away in February of this year. His son Miguel Colón, along with Nathy Peluso and Luis Figueroa, paid respects to the social activist and musician.
Several major category winners were announced during the broadcast. Karol G won the trophy for urban music album for her release Tropicoqueta, while Xavi received the award for contemporary Mexican album for Dosis. Fonseca was recognized for his contemporary tropical album Antes Que El Tiempo Se Vaya. The award for best new artist went to Colombian singer Aria Vega, who delivered a tearful acceptance speech.
The Latin Recording Academy had adjusted the eligibility rules for the best new artist category this year, limiting it to artists with fewer than three albums or 25 singles released. Most of the evening's other awards were presented during a pre-televised Premiere Ceremony. This included Bobby Pulido, who won the award for best Tejano album. Pulido had recently made history in U.S. politics by securing a seat in the House of Representatives for the Democrats in a Texas district.
In his acceptance speech, Pulido expressed deep gratitude for his career and announced his retirement from music. The combination of major musical achievements and personal milestones gave the 2026 ceremony a reflective and celebratory atmosphere, marking a significant moment for the Latin music industry.
