Rosalía wins 2026 Latin Grammy album of the year for ‘Lux’

AP:

Spanish singer Rosalía won album of the year at the 27th annual Latin Grammy Awards on Thursday night, capping an electrifying night full of stellar performances across genres.

Through tears, she started her speech in Spanish. “This is the third time I’ve won this award, and – just as El Mal Querer felt like a dream, or Motomami was a gamble – Lux has been, for me, a leap into the void,” she said, referencing her 2018, 2022 and 2025 albums, respectively. “I believe it’s very important to speak your own truth and for others to be able to speak theirs; this album is my truth.”

In many ways, it was the Spanish singer’s night from the very beginning.

She opened the show live from Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena, hosted by actor, producer and musician Roselyn Sánchez. Rosalía launched into an emotive medley of her Lux tracks La Rumba Del Perdón, La Perla and Dios Es Un Stalker, joined by angelic dancers ornamented with halos atop a stage meant to look like heavenly clouds.

It was a reminder of the expansiveness of her album: an offbeat, full-hearted embrace of her classical training through huge orchestral movements, inspired by the lives of female saints.

Some critics have argued that Rosalía, a white Catalan woman, should not be eligible for Latin Grammys, as she is from Spain and therefore not Latina. That clearly wasn’t top of mind with voters: Her La Perla also won song of the year.

During her speech for that award, she thanked Mexico and invited her collaborators on the song, the American urban sierreño trio Yahritza Y Su Esencia, to join her onstage.

DADDY YANKEE CELEBRATES, TOO

They call him the King of Reggaeton for a reason. Daddy Yankee, the 2026 Latin Grammy Awards’ person of the year and first Latin urbano artiste to receive the honour, ripped through his biggest hits an hour into Thursday’s award show, treating the stage like a stadium floor.

It was one for the history books: There were outfit changes, set changes and his native Puerto Rico always at the forefront as he ran through Ella Me Levantó, Con Calma, BOTZ, Despacito, Lo Que Pasó, Pasó, Sonríele, Rompe, Pokito and, of course, Gasolina – joined by Bizarrap, Bad Gyal, Feid, Jay Wheeler, French Montana, LL Cool J and Diljit Dosanjh.

When it came time for Daddy Yankee to receive his honour, it was delivered to him by Janet Jackson, “with admiration and respect as she said in her speech. When he accepted the award, he concluded by saying, “Puerto Rico, recuerda ... Puerto Rico no es pequeño. Pequeño el mapa.” In English: “Puerto Rico, remember” ... Puerto Rico is not small. The map is small.”

CELEBRATION OF WINNERS

The first award of the night was given out shortly after Rosalía’s opening set: Pablo Alborán and Backstreet Boys’ Howie D presented Juanes with best pop/rock album for Juanesteban.

Trophies were handed out quickly from there. Milo J’s Niño was named record of the year. Karol G took home the trophy for urban music album for Tropicoqueta. Xavi won the contemporary Mexican album for Dosis, his first Latin Grammy. His performance of Dosis and No Capeã closed the night. Fonseca was presented with the trophy for contemporary tropical album shortly thereafter for his album, Antes Que El Tiempo Se Vaya.

Best new artiste went to Colombian singer Aria Vega, who gave her acceptance speech through tears. This year, the Latin Recording Academy made changes to the category so that only artistes with fewer than three albums or 25 singles released were eligible to win.