The 26th annual Latin Grammy Awards, held on November 13, 2025, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, honored recordings released between June 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025.
Hosted by Colombian singer Maluma and Puerto Rican actress Roselyn Sánchez, the event featured 60 categories spanning genres such as urban, pop, regional Mexican, alternative, and Portuguese-language music.
Performers included Bad Bunny, Karol G, Gloria Estefan, Liniker, and Los Tigres del Norte, and Spanish icon Rafael was honored as Person of the Year. The ceremony was broadcast on Univision and TelevisaUnivision platforms, drawing global attention to the diversity and innovation of Latin music.
The nominations were announced on September 17, 2025, with Bad Bunny leading the pack with 12 nominations, followed by the Argentinian duo CA7RIEL and Paco Amoroso, and producer Édgar Barrera with 10 each.
The event emphasized cultural preservation and global reach, as noted by Manuel Abud, CEO of the Latin Recording Academy: “The impact of Latin music continues to grow worldwide, and all the nominated artists embody its diversity and richness, while continuing to preserve the iconic sounds that make our music unique.”
Bad Bunny swept the awards with five wins, including his first Album of the Year for DeBÍ Tirar Más Fotos, an introspective urban album that fuses reggaeton, trap, and personal storytelling.
CA7RIEL and Paco Amoroso also took home five awards for their satirical alternative album Papota, marking a milestone for Argentine experimental hip-hop.
Other notable wins included Song of the Year for Karol G for “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” and Record of the Year for Alejandro Sanz for “Palmeras En El Jardín.” Brazilian artist Liniker won three awards, highlighting the presence of Portuguese-speaking artists.
The Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Susana Baca, Enrique Bunbury, Iván Lins, Pandora, and Olga Tañón, in recognition of decades of influence.
Impact: The 2025 Latin Grammys expanded the global presence of Latin music, with winners like Bad Bunny and Karol G—both headlining performers at Super Bowl LVIII—connecting urban genres with American audiences.
Bad Bunny’s Album of the Year award, his first in a general category after his previous triumphs in urban music, solidified his role as a cultural ambassador. He dedicated the award to Latin American youth and Puerto Rican pride: “Music is our way of expressing who we are and fighting for what we believe in.” These words resonated amidst political tensions in the United States, although most speeches focused on unity rather than division.
The event gave visibility to underrepresented voices: the alternative success of CA7RIEL and Paco Amoroso introduced satirical and inclusive narratives for the LGBTQ+ community to a wider audience, while Liniker’s triumphs boosted Portuguese-language music, diversifying it beyond the categories traditionally dominated by Spanish.
Educational initiatives like Latin GRAMMY In The Schools reached more than 1,000 students in Miami and Las Vegas during Grammy Week, fostering the talent of future creators and underscoring the role of music in community building.
Towalame Austin of Sony Music highlighted this: “Moments like these remind us of the transformative power of music to shape lives and communities.” Economically, the Las Vegas celebration boosted local tourism, with sold-out events generating millions in revenue.
On social media, the hashtag #LatinGrammys2025 became a worldwide trending topic, with posts praising the couple’s kiss in the press center as a bold moment for the LGBTQ+ community and Bad Bunny’s wins as “iconic.” Argentine artists like Fito Páez and Trueno also gained popularity, exporting their local scenes globally.
While the night was festive, it also sparked debate about the fairness of the voting process. Bad Bunny and CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso competed against each other in the Record and Song of the Year categories (with several tracks from the same albums), which diminished their chances.
Alejandro Sanz and Karol G emerged victorious, prompting accusations of “self-sabotage” from the Academy. Critics of X called it “inexplicable,” which could cost urban/alternative artists the top awards.
Peso Pluma’s absence from the nominations, despite his 2024 album Éxodo being eligible, reignited the controversy surrounding regional Mexican music.
Fans considered it a “snub” after his previous nominations, questioning the gender’s fairness. On the other hand, Paloma Morphy’s win for Best New Artist, over Elena Rose and Joaquina, was hailed as a folk revival but criticized by urban music fans for ignoring emerging reggaeton talent.
Politically, the show’s apolitical tone generated mixed reactions: Los Tigres del Norte subtly addressed the concerns of the Latino community in the United States, but most of the winners avoided topics like immigration, prioritizing the pan-Latino celebration.
This neutrality preserved broad appeal but frustrated activists. On a positive note, the event’s return to Las Vegas (after its 2024 Miami edition) diversified the number of venues in the United States, although some X users lamented the lack of venues in South America.
The 2025 Latin Grammys reaffirmed the dominance of urban music while expanding horizons with alternative and Lusophone innovations, demonstrating the growing influence of Latin genres amidst the global streaming boom.
Bad Bunny’s triumph solidifies his legacy as a key figure in the genre, likely boosting streams and sales of DeBÍ Tirar Más Fotos before his Super Bowl performance.
However, the controversies surrounding self-nominations and snubs highlight the need for reforms within the academy to better reflect the diversity of Latin music from its roots: regional Mexican and experimental artists deserve greater opportunities.
Ultimately, the night epitomized the unifying power of music, as the tribute performance to Raphael elicited tears and cheers, reminding us that Latin art thrives on resilience and joy. As Bad Bunny noted in his acceptance speech, these awards honor not only albums but also the cultural stories they tell. Looking ahead, greater international success is expected for winners like Karol G and Liniker in 2026, and the inclusion of Latino voters in the Grammys signals deeper integration.
