Rosalía makes history at the Latin Grammy 2026 with her third album of the year

With this album I learned to let go, to not be afraid, to put aside expectations and desires. That's what Rosalía said minutes before starting the Latin Grammy gala at the MGM casino in Las Vegas, one of the keys, probably, to explain an album as round and as applauded as Lux. The Latin Recording Academy also honored his exceptional display of talent with five Latin Grammys, including best song of the year and best album. A glorious night. One more for Rosalía.

The Barcelona native started the gala with half the battle won. It had already won three awards in the presentation prior to the broadcast: best pop song, best alternative album and best short video clip for Sauvignon Blanc. Then he finished the job. Full of joy at first, and then in tears, she took the stage to receive her awards, dominating the main categories and reaching a total of 16 Latin Grammys. She herself recalled that this is the third time she has collected the award for best album of the year, something unprecedented in the history of the gala. First with El mal donder, then with Motomami and now with Lux, his great masterpiece.

He remembered Paquita la del Barrio, the Mexican singer—"without her La perla does not exist," he said—and promised to celebrate with "a cubata between his chest and back with this little golden glass," in reference to the gramophone he had in his hand. "For all those who have found a pearl, I hope that life has a diamond in store for you, because one is no longer suitable for jewelry," he concluded.

In her final speech, she thanked Juanes for giving her the final award, remembering that the Colombian singer was there for her from the beginning of her career, when only a hundred people attended her concerts. "I'm freaking out that you're giving me this," he recalled. He spoke of Lux as "a leap into the void" and left the door open to create an even better album. "I know I have a lot to learn and I probably haven't done my best work yet, but I know I have everything it takes to be the best. Thank you mom for making me that way."

Karol G seemed like her most serious opponent at the beginning of the gala, with the same nominations as the Spanish woman, seven. The Colombian came out to collect the award for best urban music album for Tropicoqueta, an album that she claims demanded a lot from her, but fell short in the main categories. He ended the night with two awards, including best reggaeton performance, for Verano Rosa, with Feid.

The surprise, however, came from Morón, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Milo J, stage name of Camilo Joaquín Villarruel, won the Latin Grammy for recording of the year for Niño and overthrew the main favorites. He is only 20 years old, and his victory confirms the rise of the rapper who began in the freestyle battles of his neighborhood and has become the most restless voice of a new Argentine generation.

Jorge Drexler was once again faithful to his date with the Latin Grammys. The Uruguayan singer-songwriter added three more awards to a personal tally that is beginning to be scandalous: 19 in total. The Madrid native by adoption won in the category of best singer-songwriter album for Taracá, best alternative song for Ante la doubt, baila and best roots song for El drum boy.

The distinction for best new artist traveled to Barranquilla. Aria Vega, stage name of Mariana Padilla Pérez, won one of the most open categories of the night with a proposal as overflowing as her hometown. They call her La Nena Quilla and she has named her style Costeñita Core, a Spanglish pop soaked in champeta, Afro-Caribbean rhythms and coastal slang that she defines as "an energy that either vibrates you or it doesn't." The coastal woman described the prize as "a premium dream", a gramophone that "means that dreams know neither geography nor fear."

Alejandro Sanz adds and continues. And they are already 25 with the Latin Grammy for best contemporary pop vocal album, for ¿Y Ahora qué +?, the expanded edition of the album with which he returned after going through one of the most difficult moments of his life due to a mental health crisis. At 57 years old, Sanz is the most awarded Spanish artist in the history of these awards.

Performances everywhere

As is usually tradition, all the heavyweights came across the stage to liven up a gala with few awards and an infinite number of musical numbers. Starting with Rosalía, who displayed a small sample of the show with which she went around the world, with a medley of songs, including La perla, the theme of the evening.

Karol G, wearing a spectacular golden dress and surrounded by an orchestra and mariachi, performed a ranchera of spite, That man is bad. Afterwards, Jorge Drexler opted for a Uruguayan purge, Las Palabras, part of Taracá, his most recent album, before giving way to Daddy Yankee and the first great tribute of the night. With a huge Puerto Rican flag on his back, the Puerto Rican shared the stage with Bizarrap, Jay Wheeler, French Montana, Diljit Dosanjh, Bad Gyal, Feid and LL Cool J to perform a tour of his greatest hits, including Ella me Levante, Dura or Gasolina.

Minutes later the tribute to José Alfredo Jiménez arrived with another group of artists. They played I'll let you loose the reins, The half-turn, If they let us and The king. The farewell to Willie Colom was the most emotional part of the evening. His death in February 2026, at age 75, shocked the music world.