Latin Grammys 2026 Preview: Daddy Yankee's Big Night, a Willie Colón Tribute and a Stacked Stage
Music's biggest Latin night is Thursday, November 12, in Las Vegas. Here is who is performing, who is nominated and why this year matters for New York.
Photo: Nicolás Flor / Unsplash.
Clear your Thursday night. The Latin Grammys are back on November 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, with Univision carrying the show and Puerto Rican actress Roselyn Sánchez hosting a three-hour live broadcast.
The headline: Daddy Yankee, Person of the Year
The Latin Recording Academy is honoring Daddy Yankee as its Person of the Year, and he will perform to celebrate it. Think about that for a second. Reggaeton started in Puerto Rico's housing projects, was played from car speakers and mixtapes, and was dismissed by the industry for years. Now the man who carried it to every corner of the planet is being honored by the Academy itself.
A tribute with Bronx roots
The show also plans a tribute to Willie Colón, the trombonist, bandleader and producer who helped build the New York salsa sound out of the South Bronx in the 1960s and 70s. For anyone raised on Fania records playing on a Sunday, this one is personal. Salsa as the world knows it was made in our neighborhoods.
Who is performing
The lineup keeps growing. The latest additions include Karol G, Bizarrap and Bad Gyal. They join a stage that already includes:
- Rosalía, Anitta and Feid
- Carín León, Grupo Frontera and Banda Los Recoditos
- Juanes, Fonseca, Reik and Cristian Castro
- Kany García, Mon Laferte, Jorge Drexler and Silvana Estrada
- Rawayana, Milo J, Xavi, Elena Rose, Sofía Reyes, The Warning, Camila Fernández, Niña Pastori, Luis Figueroa, Vivir Quintana and Yami Safdie
The races to watch
Karol G, the Argentine duo CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso, and Rosalía are among this year's top nominees. Rosalía is up for Album of the Year and Record of the Year, and hitmaker Edgar Barrera is again one of the most nominated names on the board.
The Den's take
Look at that stage: reggaeton royalty, regional Mexican, Venezuelan pop, Argentine rap, Spanish flamenco pop and a salsa legend's legacy, all in one room. That is the real story of Latin music right now. It is not one sound. It is every sound, from every corner of the culture, and it is selling out arenas worldwide.
How to watch
The show airs Thursday, November 12, on Univision, with streaming options through Univision's platforms. Check local listings for start times.
Who are you rooting for? Drop your picks for Album of the Year in the comments.
Follow @theinnovatorsden.
Sources: Latination: Latin Grammys 2026 confirmed artists lineup · InMusic: Karol G, Bizarrap and Bad Gyal added, Willie Colón tribute · Remezcla: Karol G, CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso, Rosalía among top nominees · Pollstar: Rosalía, Daddy Yankee, Anitta to perform