The nominations for the 26th annual Latin Grammy Awards have been announced, with Bad Bunny, the Argentine duo Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, and acclaimed producer-songwriter Edgar Barrera leading the field. Their significant recognition highlights the vibrant and diverse landscape of the modern music industry, particularly as it continues to thrive with the growth of streaming.
Bad Bunny stands out with a remarkable 12 nominations. The superstar’s critically acclaimed album, ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’ (‘I Should Have Taken More Photos’), is up for Album of the Year. This album saw him blend traditional Puerto Rican styles like plena and urbano with his signature reggaeton and trap sound. He also earned nods for Record of the Year and Song of the Year for two tracks from this album, ‘Baile Inolvidable’ and ‘DtMF.’
Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, known for their innovative and playful fusion of hip-hop, Latin pop, and energetic funk, received 10 nominations. Their album ‘Papota’ is a contender for Album of the Year, and two of their tracks, ‘El Día del Amigo’ and ‘#Tetas,’ are nominated for both Record and Song of the Year. The duo gained significant international attention last fall following a viral performance on NPR’s ‘Tiny Desk Concerts.’
Behind the scenes, Mexican American producer Edgar Barrera also garnered 10 nominations, solidifying his status as one of the most sought-after talents in contemporary Latin pop. His work includes co-writing and producing Karol G’s massive hit ‘Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido.’
Other prominent artist nominees include Mexican singer-songwriter Natalia Lafourcade with eight nominations, and Brazilian artist Liniker, who secured six nods.
The Album of the Year category will see Bad Bunny and Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso compete against Rauw Alejandro’s ‘Cosa Nuestra,’ Lafourcade’s ‘Cancionera,’ Alejandro Sanz’s ‘¿Y Ahora Qué?,’ Carin León’s ‘Palabra de To’s (Seca),’ and albums by Gloria Estefan, Vicente García, Joaquina, Liniker, and Elena Rose.
In the highly anticipated Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories, Bad Bunny and Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso will face off against Lafourcade’s ‘Cancionera,’ Sanz’s ‘Palmeras en el Jardín,’ and Karol G’s ‘Si Antes No Te Hubiera Conocido.’ It’s important to note that Record of the Year honors the performer and producers of a specific recording, while Song of the Year celebrates the songwriters.
Additional nominees for Record of the Year include Liniker (‘Ao Teu Lado’), Zoe Gotusso (‘Lara’), and Jorge Drexler & Conociendo Rusia (‘Desastres Fabulosos’). The Song of the Year ballot also features Andrés Cepeda’s ‘Bogotá,’ Mon Laferte’s ‘Otra Noche de Llorar,’ and Liniker’s ‘Veludo Marrom.’
The Best New Artist category recognizes a fresh wave of talent, with nominees including Alleh, Annasofia, Yerai Cortés, Juliane Gamboa, Camila Guevara, Isadora, Alex Luna, Paloma Morphy, Sued Nunes, and Ruzzi.
Latin music continues its impressive global ascent, fueled by extensive streaming, international tours, and the immense star power of artists like Bad Bunny, Karol G, Rauw Alejandro, and Peso Pluma. It remains a rapidly expanding sector within the global music industry, notably holding the title of the fastest-growing genre in the United States.
Manuel Abud, CEO of the Latin Recording Academy, emphasized this growth, stating, “The impact of Latin music continues to grow on a global level. And all of the nominated artists encompass its diversity and richness while continuing to preserve the iconic sounds that make our music unique.”
The 26th Latin Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled for November 13 in Las Vegas and will be broadcast by TelevisaUnivision. Eligibility for nominations requires music released between June 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025, with at least 60 percent of its lyrical content in Spanish, Portuguese, or a native regional language.
This year’s ceremony introduces two new categories among its 60 awards: Best Music for Visual Media and Best Roots Song. Notably, Bad Bunny is also a contender in the Best Roots Song category.