The Latin music world is abuzz with anticipation as the Latin Recording Academy unveiled the nominations for the 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards on September 17, 2025. This year’s ceremony, set for November 13 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, promises to be a star-studded affair, with Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny leading the pack with an astounding 12 nominations. As the only international honor in Latin music awarded by industry professionals, the Latin GRAMMYs are once again poised to celebrate the genre’s most influential artists, songwriters, and producers from the eligibility period spanning June 1, 2024, through May 31, 2025.
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is certainly no stranger to the Latin GRAMMY spotlight. This year, he’s up for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year with not one, but two tracks: "Baile Inolvidable" and "DtMF." His latest album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos (which translates to "I Should Have Taken More Photos"), is also in the running for Album of the Year—a testament to his continued dominance and creative evolution within the industry. In an interview with The New York Times earlier this year, Bad Bunny reflected on the album’s meaning, saying, “I remember back in time photos used to be something very special. Today you can take a picture of everything. Maybe sometimes I don’t want a picture with someone for many reasons: Maybe I’m not in my best mood. Sometimes I feel that maybe this person is not a real fan. And also because maybe I got used to it and it’s not a special moment for me. But for them, maybe it is and the person wants to save that moment. So that’s the meaning of the title—you should appreciate more the moments and the people.”
But the album is more than just a nostalgic reflection. Bad Bunny described it as a love letter to his homeland of Puerto Rico, where he recorded much of the project and collaborated with up-and-coming local artists. “I’ve been saying, like, what is the purpose of me being here, in this position? What’s next? You die and that’s it. There’s no, like, ‘Oh you were the most streamed artist’ — so what? I was thinking on that and said, ‘I should do something where I can plant a seed.’ I said, ‘Bro, that is the purpose—to give young people an opportunity to showcase the rhythms of Puerto Rico.’”
Alongside Bad Bunny’s impressive haul, the nominations list is stacked with other heavyweights and rising stars. Frequent collaborator Édgar Barrera earned 10 nominations, while the genre-blending duo CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso also scored 10 nods, including double appearances in both Record of the Year and Song of the Year for their tracks "El Día del Amigo" and "#Tetas." The competition is fierce, with established icons like Natalia Lafourcade and Karol G also securing multiple nominations. Karol G, for instance, is nominated for Record of the Year for "Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido," and Shakira is in the running for Best Pop Song with her single "Soltera."
The full list of nominees reads like a who’s who of Latin music, spanning genres from pop and reggaeton to rock, salsa, and alternative. The Record of the Year category alone features a diverse lineup: Bad Bunny’s "Baile Inolvidable" and "DtMF," CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso’s "El Día del Amigo" and "#Tetas," Alejandro Sanz’s "Palmeras en el Jardín," Natalia Lafourcade’s "Cancionera," Zoe Gotusso’s "Lara," Jorge Drexler & Conociendo Rusia’s "Desastres Fabulosos," Karol G’s "Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido," and Liniker’s "Ao Teu Lado."
This year’s Latin GRAMMYs are also introducing a new field and two new categories: Best Music For Visual Media, which recognizes outstanding music created specifically for film, television, or other visual productions, and Best Roots Song, celebrating tracks that reflect the traditions and roots of Hispanic American communities. These additions reflect the Academy’s ongoing efforts to adapt to the evolving landscape of Latin music, ensuring that innovation and cultural heritage are both honored on the international stage.
Album of the Year is another hotly contested category, with nominations for Rauw Alejandro’s Cosa Nuestra, Gloria Estefan’s Raíces, Carín León’s Palabra De To’s (Seca), Liniker’s Caju, Elena Rose’s En Las Nubes - Con Mis Panas, Alejandro Sanz’s ¿Y Ahora Qué?, Vicente García’s Puñito De Yocahú, Joaquina’s Al Romper la Burbuja, and Natalia Lafourcade’s Cancionera, in addition to Bad Bunny and CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso.
The Best New Artist category is brimming with fresh talent, including Alleh, Annasofia, Yerai Cortés, Juliane Gamboa, Camila Guevara, Isadora, Alex Luna, Paloma Morphy, Sued Nunes, and Ruzzi. These emerging voices are poised to shape the future of Latin music, and their inclusion signals the Academy’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of stars.
Other key categories highlight the breadth and depth of the Latin music scene. Best Contemporary Pop Album features Aitana’s Cuarto Azul, Alejandro Sanz’s ¿Y Ahora Qué?, Elena Rose’s En las Nubes - Con Mis Panas, Elsa y Elmar’s Palacio, and Joaquina’s Al Romper la Burbuja. Best Traditional Pop Album sees nominations for Jesse & Joy’s Lo Que Nos Faltó Decir, Natalia Lafourcade’s Natalia Lafourcade Live at Carnegie Hall, Raquel Sofía’s Después de los 30, Zoe Gotusso’s Cursi, and Andrés Cepeda’s Bogotá.
The urban and reggaeton fields, which have exploded in popularity worldwide, are well represented. Bad Bunny’s "DtMF" is up for Best Urban/Urban Fusion Performance, while his "Voy a Llevarte Pa’ PR" competes for Best Reggaeton Performance. The Best Urban Music Album contenders include Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos, Yandel’s Elyte, Nicki Nicole’s Naiki, Papatinho’s MPC (Música Popular Carioca), and Fariana’s Underwater.
Rock and alternative genres are not left out, with nominations for A.N.I.M.A.L., Leiva, Marilina Bertoldi, Eruca Sativa, and Fito Páez in the Best Rock Album category. The alternative field features CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso’s Papota, Judeline’s Bodhiria, Latin Mafia’s Todos los Días Todo el Día, Marilina Bertoldi’s Para Quien Trabajas Vol. I, and Rusowsky’s Daisy.
According to the Latin Recording Academy, the awards are decided by a membership body composed of artists, songwriters, producers, engineers, and mixers—ensuring that winners are chosen by their peers. This peer-driven process is a cornerstone of the Latin GRAMMYs’ credibility and prestige.
With the ceremony just weeks away, fans and industry insiders alike are eagerly awaiting the results. The 2025 Latin GRAMMYs will be broadcast across TelevisaUnivision’s U.S. platforms, offering viewers around the world a front-row seat to the biggest night in Latin music. Whether you’re rooting for a perennial favorite or a breakout newcomer, one thing is clear: this year’s nominees represent the vibrant, ever-evolving heart of Latin music.
As the spotlight turns to Las Vegas on November 13, all eyes will be on the artists who have shaped the sound of the past year—and on the moments that will become tomorrow’s memories.
