It’s official: Bad Bunny’s reign over the Latin music world shows no sign of slowing down. On September 17, 2025, the Latin Recording Academy announced the nominees for the 26th Annual Latin Grammy Awards, and the Puerto Rican superstar leads the pack with a staggering 12 nominations. The ceremony, set for November 13 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, promises to be a showcase of both established icons and rising stars, but there’s no mistaking who’s at the center of attention this year.
Bad Bunny’s impressive haul includes multiple nods in the most coveted categories—Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year. His deeply personal sixth album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, released in January 2025, is up for Album of the Year and Urban Music Album of the Year. The album, which spent four weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 chart, has not only resonated with critics and fans but also fueled his “No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí” residency in Puerto Rico, a 30-night run that wraps up on September 20 and is expected to have a lasting impact on the island’s economy and cultural visibility, according to reporting from USA Today.
“It’s Bad Bunny’s world once again,” declared the Las Vegas Sun, reflecting the sentiment of many in the industry. With his nominations for “Baile Inolvidable” and “DTMF” in both Record of the Year and Song of the Year, Bad Bunny has managed to secure double recognition in categories where the competition is especially fierce. The singer’s career at the Latin Grammys has been nothing short of remarkable. Since his first nomination in 2019, he’s amassed 12 wins from 40 nominations. This year’s dozen brings his career total to 52 nominations—a testament to his sustained influence and creative output, as noted by El País.
Bad Bunny isn’t the only artist making waves this awards season. Argentine hip-hop duo CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso have earned 10 nominations, tying with veteran producer Edgar Barrera for the second-most nods. The duo’s tracks “El Día Del Amigo” and “#Tetas” are both up for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, positioning them as formidable contenders. Barrera, meanwhile, continues his streak as a fixture at the awards, having led the nominations in previous years and now sharing the spotlight with the new generation of Latin music creators.
The eligibility period for this year’s awards ran from June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025. The Latin Recording Academy, which boasts a voting membership of 4,600, unveiled the nominations in a livestream, with artists like Natalia Lafourcade, Soledad, Yotuel, and Juan Luis Guerra helping to announce the top categories. The energy surrounding the announcement was palpable, with industry insiders and fans alike speculating on who would take home the top honors.
Alongside Bad Bunny and CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso, other notable nominees for Album of the Year include Rauw Alejandro (Cosa Nuestra), Gloria Estefan (Raíces), Vicente García (Puñito De Yocahú), Joaquina (al romper la burbuja), Natalia Lafourcade (Cancionera), Carín León (Palabra De To’s (Seca)), Liniker (Caju), Elena Rose (En Las Nubes – Con Mis Panas), and Alejandro Sanz (¿Y Ahora Qué?). The diversity of genres and backgrounds represented in these nominations speaks to the ever-expanding reach and richness of Latin music, a point emphasized by Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud: “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.”
This year also marks the introduction of a new field—Visual Media—and two new categories: Best Music for Visual Media and Best Roots Song. The Visual Media field is designed to recognize music created specifically for television, film, and other visual platforms, reflecting the evolving landscape of music consumption. Nominees in the new Best Music for Visual Media category include Cabra, Federico Jusid, Pedro Osuna, Camilo Sanabria, and Gustavo Santaolalla. The Best Roots Song category, meanwhile, celebrates the traditional and folk influences that underpin so much of Latin music’s enduring appeal.
The Best New Artist category is stacked with fresh talent, featuring Alleh, Annasofia, Yerai Cortés, Juliane Gamboa, Camila Guevara, Isadora, Alex Luna, Paloma Morphy, Sued Nunes, and Ruzzi. These emerging voices represent the next wave of Latin music, and their inclusion signals the Academy’s commitment to spotlighting innovation and evolution within the genre.
Of course, the Latin Grammys are about more than just the competitive categories. Each year, the Academy honors a Person of the Year, and in 2025, that distinction goes to Spanish singer Raphael. At 82, Raphael is being recognized for a career that has transcended borders and languages. “His resilience and constant reinvention have kept him relevant throughout the decades, making him a source of inspiration for new generations of Latin music creators,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of the Latin Recording Academy, in a statement reported by El País. Raphael’s tribute ceremony will take place on November 12, the evening before the main awards show, adding a layer of historical significance to this year’s festivities.
The ceremony itself will be produced by TelevisaUnivision, the leading Spanish-language media company in the world. The three-hour telecast will begin at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central), preceded by a one-hour pre-show at 7 p.m. ET/PT (6 p.m. Central), ensuring fans across the United States can tune in for all the excitement. While only about a dozen awards are typically presented during the televised gala, the Latin Grammys actually encompass up to 60 categories, with the remainder awarded during a separate, non-televised ceremony. This breadth underscores the Academy’s dedication to recognizing the full spectrum of Latin music, from pop and electronic to children’s, tropical, regional Mexican, and rock, as well as awards for composers, traditional albums, Christian or Portuguese-language albums, music videos, and arrangements.
For some, the absence of regional Mexican star Peso Pluma—whose album “Éxodo” was eligible but did not receive a nod—was a notable surprise, especially given his two nominations last year. Meanwhile, groups like Fuerza Regida are hoping for their first Latin Grammy win, adding another layer of anticipation to the proceedings.
With less than two months until the winners are revealed, speculation is running high. Will Bad Bunny add to his already impressive trophy collection? Can CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso or Karol G pull off an upset? And how will the new categories shape the future of the awards? One thing’s certain: the Latin Grammys remain the definitive celebration of the genre’s past, present, and future—and this year, all eyes are on Las Vegas.
