A Songwriter Leads the 2026 Latin Grammy Nominations, With Karol G, Rosalía and CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso on His Heels

Karol GLatin · Medellín, ColombiaArtist profile →

The most-nominated name at this year's Latin Grammys isn't a singer. Edgar Barrera, the Mexican songwriter and producer behind much of Karol G's Tropicoqueta and Carín León's Muda, leads the 2026 nominations with 10, the Latin Recording Academy announced Wednesday (Sept. 16). It's the biggest single haul on a list that is unusually spread out: Karol G, Rosalía, Jorge Drexler and the Argentine duo CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso follow with seven each.

Barrera's 10 new nods bring his career total to 72, of which he has won 29, Billboard notes. They include producer and songwriter of the year, and three in the best regional song category. The 27th Latin Grammys will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 12, on Univision, and the nominees were drawn from recordings released between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026.

The big three categories

Rosalía's Lux is up for Album of the Year, and “La Perla,” her collaboration with Yahritza y Su Esencia, is in both Record and Song of the Year, Pitchfork notes. She's up against Karol G, CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso and Silvana Estrada in all three. Album of the Year also includes Anitta, Jorge Drexler, Mon Laferte, Carín León, Milo J and Rawayana. CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso, whose Free Spirits is in the album race, are up for Song of the Year with “Hasta Jesús Tuvo Un Mal Día,” featuring Sting. Becky G and Santana's “Mi Gran Amor,” which Rolling Stone calls a powerful anti-ICE collaboration, is also in the running.

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The academy's chief executive, Manuel Abud, pointed to the balance in the top category. “The album of the year category, if you analyze it, is a wonderful list,” he told Billboard Español. “Interestingly, it’s half men, half women.” He added that seven countries are represented across the field: Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Colombia, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay.

Milo J, and who's new

The surprise is Milo J. The 19-year-old Argentine singer and rapper has five nominations, including all three major categories, for the folk-leaning album La Vida Era Más Corta, which he made with help from his countryman Trueno, per Rolling Stone and Billboard. He has been nominated before, but he's still looking for his first win. (He's also been booked to headline Estéreo Picnic 2027.)

Best New Artist is a wide-open 11-way ballot, including Delilah, Fabian, Loulu Gilberto, maye and Aria Vega, plus Macario Martínez. Further down the card, J Balvin and Ryan Castro are up for Best Urban Music Album for Omerta, against Karol G, Bad Gyal, Beéle and Young Miko. Cuban legend Omara Portuondo, who is 95, picked up a nomination for best traditional tropical album.

What's next: final-round voting opens Oct. 1, per Complex, and the winners are announced in Las Vegas on Nov. 12. Karol G, who became the first Latina artist to headline Coachella this year, is up for Album of the Year for Tropicoqueta and for Record and Song of the Year with “Coleccionando Heridas,” her duet with Marco Antonio Solís.

Added to the High Grailed archive on October 12, 2026.