Luca Bignardi

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lgcf scholarships

*The Frost School of Music at the University of Miami and Gibson Gives return to award additional scholarships to gifted musicians*

**MIAMI (JANUARY 13, 2026)**—The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® announced two additional scholarships to be awarded in 2026 with the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami and Gibson Gives returning as supporters for the second consecutive year. 

“We are proud to partner with Frost School of Music at the University of Miami—with special support from **Serona Elton**, Interim Vice Dean and Chair of its Music Industry Program—as well as Gibson Gives, and welcome them back as part of our roster of scholarship supporters,” said **Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza**, Executive Director of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation. “Together, we continue to support the next generation of Latin music creators.”

The scholarship details are as follows: 

The **Frost School of Music Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation Scholarship** will be awarded to a minimum of one (1) exceptionally gifted musician, who has a passion for Latin music and has financial limitations, to complete a four-year bachelor’s degree at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, one of the top music schools in the world. The value of the scholarship ranges between $32,000 to $250,000 and will cover tuition and wrap around services provided by the Foundation. This scholarship is open to students who have already applied for admission to the Frost School of Music starting in the fall of this year. To apply visit [latingrammyculturalfoundation.org](https://www.latingrammyculturalfoundation.org/en) by February 17, 2026. 

**Gibson Gives**, the philanthropic division of the iconic instrument brand Gibson, will offer three (3) Tuition Assistance Scholarships awarded to talented students pursuing or starting a degree in music in the Fall 2026 semester. The scholarship will cover tuition costs not covered by other scholarships, with final award amount details provided to those selected to study at the music institution of their choice. This gift includes a Gibson Epiphone, Kramer, Tobias, guitar or bass. To apply, visit [latingrammyculturalfoundation.org](https://www.latingrammyculturalfoundation.org/en) by April 10, 2026. 

As previously announced last month, there are several scholarships open for application this year, including the 2026 Noel Schajris Scholarship, the Emerging Talent Scholarship from Berklee College of Music, the Celia Cruz Legacy Scholarship, the Kany García Scholarship, the Manolo Díaz Scholarship, as well as additional Tuition Assistance Scholarships. For more information visit [latingrammyculturalfoundation.org](https://www.latingrammyculturalfoundation.org/en).

To date, the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation has awarded 477 scholarships, investing more than $12 million over the last 12 years. For information and the latest news, please visit the official Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation website at [latingrammyculturalfoundation.org](https://www.latingrammyculturalfoundation.org/en).

**ABOUT THE LATIN GRAMMY CULTURAL FOUNDATION:**

The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established by The Latin Recording Academy® with the vision of becoming a global champion of music education and empowering communities through Latin music and culture. For over a decade, the Foundation has fostered the next generation of Latin music creators through scholarships, education programs and grants that advance Latin music and celebrate its rich cultural heritage. To date, the Foundation has invested more than $15 million with the support of The Latin Recording Academy’s members, artists, corporate sponsors and other generous donors.For additional information or to donate, please visit [latingrammyculturalfoundation.org](https://www.latingrammyculturalfoundation.org/en) or our [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/latingrammyculturalfoundation) page. And follow us @latingrammyfdn on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/latingrammyfdn), and at Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/latingrammyculturalfoundation) and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/latingrammyculturalfoundation).

**MEDIA CONTACT:**

**The Latin Recording Academy**

Nathalie Alberto

[Nathalie.alberto@grammy.com](Nathalie.alberto@grammy.com)

LGCF scholarships

LGCF Adds Two Additional Scholarships For 2026

The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® Adds Two Additional Scholarships For 2026

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<h3 style="color:#001489; font-size: 28px;">LATIN GRAMMYs KEY DATES</h3>

**For recordings released: June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026**

| **APRIL 1** | ONLINE ENTRY PROCESS (OEP) ONE ROUND ONLY |
|----------|----------|
| **JULY 27** | 1st ROUND ONLINE VOTING |
| **SEPT. 16** | NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCEMENT |
| **OCT. 1** | FINAL ROUND ONLINE VOTING |
| **NOV. 12** | 27th ANNUAL LATIN GRAMMY AWARDS® |

[VIEW COMPLETE CALENDAR](awards/calendar)

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27th show announcement

*Nominations will be announced on Sept. 16, and streamed across all social channels*

**MIAMI (MARCH 25, 2026)** – The Latin Recording Academy® announced several category and eligibility changes for the 27th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, taking place on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, with nominations set to be announced on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. 

These changes to the Awards Process, from the music creators and professionals that make up its membership body, are part of The Latin Academy’s commitment to evolve with the ever-changing musical landscape, and to best serve its approximately 7,000 members from 62 countries around the world. **All updates go into effect immediately for the upcoming 27th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards.**

“As our Academy continues to evolve, our focus remains firmly on our membership and the integrity of our Awards Process,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “These updates are driven by our members, whose participation each year ensures the Latin GRAMMY Awards continue to stand as a benchmark for excellence in Latin music.” 

**CATEGORY CHANGE**

* Best Portuguese Language Urban Performance category will evolve to an album category as Best Portuguese Language Urban Album (Portuguese Language Field).

**CATEGORY NAME CHANGES**

* Best Latin Electronic Music Performance category will evolve to Best Electronic Music Performance (Electronic Field)

* Best Urban/Urban Fusion Performance category will evolve to Best Urban Performance (Urban Field)

* Best Classical Contemporary Composition category will evolve to Best Classical Composition (Classical Field)

**AMENDMENTS TO ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SEVERAL CATEGORIES**

Eligibility requirements for Producer of the Year category:

* A minimum of five (5) total producer credits, achieved through any combination of album credits, single/track credits or co-production percentage credits. Alternatively, a producer credit on 100% of at least five (5) singles or tracks.

* Co-production rule: credits are divided evenly among all producers. Example: four (4) producers = 0.25 credits each per track.

Eligibility requirements for Best New Artist category:

* An artist is not eligible for consideration if they have released more than three (3) albums, or 25 singles, or a combination of albums and singles that surpasses these limits. Singles that are subsequently included as tracks on an album shall not be counted towards the single total.

Eligibility requirements for Best Instrumental Album category:

* Vocals can be used in up to 40% of the total playing time, while requiring that at least 60% of the work remain instrumental. If vocals are present, 60% of the vocal content must be performed in one of The Latin Academy’s accepted languages.

Eligibility requirements for Singer-Songwriter categories:

* A singer-songwriter may compose and perform some songs with a colleague, provided the required participation percentages are met.

* For a singer-songwriter album to be eligible, the artist(s) must both write and perform together on at least 75% of the album. 

* In cases where two singer-songwriters collaborate, eligibility applies only when both artists jointly write and perform the same material; artists who perform together but do not write together are not eligible. “Live” albums may be eligible if they contain at least 51% new material. 

* The statuette is presented only to eligible singer-songwriter artists, with eligibility strictly requiring both songwriting and performance contributions, ensuring consistent interpretation.

Eligibility requirements for Best Contemporary Tropical Album category:

* Category now includes and accepts recordings influenced by or belonging to Kompa Haitiano.

Eligibility Requirements for Best Music for Visual Media category:

* Category now requires eligible submissions to include supporting video materials.

**USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE**

The Latin GRAMMY Awards® recognize creative excellence. Only human creators are eligible to be submitted for consideration for, nominated for, or win a Latin GRAMMY®. A work that contains no human authorship is not eligible in any category. A work that features elements of A.I. material (i.e. material generated by the use of artificial intelligence technology) is eligible in applicable categories, however: (1) the human authorship component of the work submitted must be meaningful and more than de minimis; (2) such human authorship component must be relevant to the category in which such work is entered (e.g. if the work is submitted in a songwriting category, there must be meaningful and more than de minimis human authorship in respect of the music and/or lyrics; if the work is submitted in a performance category, there must be meaningful and more than de minimis human authorship in respect of the performance); and (3) the author(s) of any A.I. material incorporated into the work are not eligible to be nominees or Latin GRAMMY recipients insofar as their contribution to the portion of the work that consists of such A.I material is concerned. De minimis is defined as lacking significance or importance; so minor as to merit disregard.

**LABEL COPY CREDITS AND UPDATED FEES**

All requests for label copy credit corrections must include the following:

* A formal statement detailing what information was inaccurately submitted or omitted.

* Updated (final) label copy.

* Call sheets or studio logs confirming that the additional individual(s) worked on the recording and specifying their roles.

* Confirmation that credits have been updated across all applicable DSPs.

* All requests must be submitted in writing by the person who made the entry.

Changes or corrections to credits will be accepted from the time of submission until the announcement of nominations. If a nominated recording or video requires a credit correction after nominations are announced, a fee will be implemented. New fees and payment requirements are as follows: Record labels: USD $5,000 per label copy and Latin Recording Academy members: USD $1,000 per label copy.

**ENTRY PROCESS UPDATED FEE** 

Early bird entry pricing model for record labels will now be replaced with a single,

set entry fee of USD $2,000 that applies regardless of submission date within the eligibility period.

For complete category descriptions and eligibility requirements, please refer to the new Rules &amp; Guidelines document. And to view this year’s Awards calendar, visit <https://www.latingrammy.com/en/awards/calendar>.

**Key dates for this year’s Awards Process include:**

**June 1, 2025 - May 31, 2026:** Product Eligibility Period 

**April 1 - May 31, 2026:** Online Entry Process (OEP)

**July 27 - Aug. 10, 2026:** First Round of Voting

**Sept. 16, 2026:** Nominees announced for the 27th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards

**Oct. 1 - 12, 2026:** Final Round of Voting

**Nov. 12, 2026:** 27th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards airing live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Univision. Additional broadcasting partners will be announced in the Fall. 

For the latest news, visit the official Latin Recording Academy site at [LatinGRAMMY.com](https://www.latingrammy.com/en). Follow us on Facebook ([LatinGRAMMYs](https://www.facebook.com/latingrammys)), X ([@LatinGRAMMYs](https://www.x.com/latingrammys)) or Instagram ([@LatinGRAMMYs](https://www.instagram.com/latingrammys)), and join the conversation using our official hashtag #LatinGRAMMY on all popular social media platforms.

###

**ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:**

The Latin Recording Academy® is an international nonprofit dedicated to nurturing, celebrating, honoring and elevating Latin music and its creators. Established as the global authority on Latin music, the membership-based organization composed of music professionals produces the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, The Biggest Night in Latin Music®, which honors excellence in the recording arts and sciences, in addition to providing educational and outreach programs for the music community through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®. For more information, please visit [LatinGRAMMY.com.](https://www.latingrammy.com/en)

**MEDIA CONTACT:**

**The Latin Recording Academy**

Iveliesse Malavé

[ive@grammy.com](ive@grammy.com)

27 show announcement

27th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards

The Latin Recording Academy® Announces New Eligibility Guidelines For The 27th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, Set To Take Place On Nov. 12

POTY 2026

*The artist will be honored at a special gala on November 11 in Las Vegas, during Latin GRAMMY® Week*

Photo credit: Isaac Reyes

Click [here](https://grammy4-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/daniela_mederos_grammy_com/IgB4_y913m7YT6SKydqXpmwSAbriF3012oRlI-R6EDKOqdM?e=rzWbuk) to access the image in high resolution

**MIAMI (APRIL 7, 2026)**— The Latin Recording Academy® announced that multi–Latin GRAMMY® winner and multi-GRAMMY® nominee, Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez, known as **Daddy Yankee**, will be the 2026 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year™.

Daddy Yankee, a pioneer and driving force behind the globalization of reggaeton music, will be honored for his nearly three-decade career as a singer, songwriter and performer within the urban genre, as well as for his humanitarian efforts. His career represents an example of perseverance, resilience and creativity.

“Daddy Yankee has been a defining force in the global rise of Latin music,” said **Manuel Abud**, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “His leadership, discipline and vision opened the doors for a genre and inspired an entire generation of creators, and he remains as relevant today as ever. We are proud to honor him as our 2026 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year.”

“This recognition from The Latin Recording Academy is a dream come true. It means a lot because it represents more than just a successful career; it’s recognition of years of discipline, struggle, faith and commitment to our culture,” said **Daddy Yankee**. “Receiving something like this is to honor Puerto Rico, to honor all Latinos, and specifically to that entire generation that believed in our music when no one else understood it.”

From his humble beginnings in the barrios of Las Lomas and Villa Kennedy in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Daddy Yankee channeled a complex social reality—marked by violence, censorship, and exclusion—into a musical language of his own. In a context where reggaeton music was stigmatized by society, he not only defended artistry but also played a decisive role in its cultural legitimization.

The historic turning point came in 2004 with *Barrio Fino*, an album that redefined Latin music in the 21st century, selling over eight million copies and spending 24 consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. With the global phenomenon of “Gasolina,” Daddy Yankee opened the international doors to reggaeton and popularized it among new generations. He became the first reggaeton performing artist to embark on an international tour, visiting more than 29 countries and bringing urban music to stages worldwide. Among his international hits are “Limbo,” “Con Calma,” and “Dura,” which reached number one in multiple countries.

His impact on the charts is both historic and sustained. “Despacito,” written in collaboration with Erika Ender and Luis Fonsi, marked a turning point in the music industry: 16 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, 56 weeks atop Hot Latin Songs, and more than 8.9 billion streams, establishing itself as one of the greatest musical phenomena of all time.

In 2022, Daddy Yankee announced his retirement from professional music, stating that *Legendaddy* would be the last album of his career, and subsequently, “La Última Vuelta World Tour” became one of the highest-grossing Latin tours in history. In his most recent phase, Daddy Yankee has developed a new creative direction focused on purpose-driven music, incorporating spiritual reflection, ethical values and personal transformation. His latest album, *Lamento En Baile*, includes the song “Sonríele,” which reached number one on Billboard Latin Airplay.

Daddy Yankee’s social impact is equally powerful. He is an agent of change in Puerto Rico, offering meaningful and timely social and educational programs through his foundation, and demonstrating a genuine and consistent commitment to the most vulnerable communities. In recent years, his strategic investment in sports—from the baseball team Cangrejeros de Santurce to the NBA Basketball School in Puerto Rico—confirms a legacy-driven vision focused on developing future generations of athletes.

The Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year honors musicians and their artistic achievements in the Latin music industry, as well as their humanitarian efforts. Daddy Yankee will be celebrated at a private gala on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, in Las Vegas, as part of Latin GRAMMY® Week. The tribute concert will feature renditions of his renowned repertoire performed by an array of international artists and close friends. To purchase tickets, please contact: [lgticketing@grammy.com](lgticketing@grammy.com).

###

**ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:**

The Latin Recording Academy® is an international nonprofit dedicated to nurturing, celebrating, honoring and elevating Latin music and its creators. Established as the global authority on Latin music, the membership-based organization composed of music professionals produces the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, The Biggest Night in Latin Music®, which honors excellence in the recording arts and sciences, in addition to providing educational and outreach programs for the music community through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®. For more information, please visit [LatinGRAMMY.com](https://www.latingrammy.com/eN).

**MEDIA CONTACT:**

**The Latin Recording Academy**

Iveliesse Malavé

[ive@grammy.com](ive@grammy.com)

305\.576.0036

**For Artist Inquiries:**

Nevárez Communications

[mayna@nevarezpr.com](mayna@nevarezpr.com)

Daddy Yankee Person Of The Year™

Daddy Yankee Named 2026 Latin Recording Academy Person Of The Year™

SA 2026

*This year’s honorees are Alaska, Omar Alfanno, Francisco Céspedes, Lila Downs, Daniela Mercury and Chichí Peralta* 

*Click [here](https://grammy4-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/daniela_mederos_grammy_com/IgAq8bj5RLPCTKjlAJfLXMBnAfCBsUEsQV9D5lhBvZpl2AY?e=HVp10K) for additional images*

**MIAMI (JUNE 30, 2026)** — The Latin Recording Academy® announced today that **Alaska**, **Francisco Céspedes**, **Lila Downs**, **Daniela Mercury** and **Chichí Peralta** will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, and **Omar Alfanno** will be awarded the Trustees Award, as part of this year’s Special Awards ceremony. 

“It is a great privilege to honor these living legends—an exceptional group whose influence transcends generations and genres—who continue to enrich and redefine our musical heritage,” said **Manuel Abud**, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “We are delighted to celebrate their extraordinary careers, along with the recipient of the Latin Music Educator Award, during the 27th Annual Latin GRAMMY® Week.” 

The Lifetime Achievement Award honors performers who have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to Latin music and its communities. The Trustees Award is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to Latin music over their careers, in ways other than performance. Both distinctions are voted on by The Latin Recording Academy’s Board of Trustees. The honorees will be celebrated on November 9 during Latin GRAMMY Week in Las Vegas.

For the second consecutive year, the Latin Music Educator Award winner will be honored at the ceremony. This award, presented in partnership with the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®, honors an exceptional educator in the global music community who has made a significant impact by integrating Latin music into their curriculum. As part of the award, the recipient’s school music program will receive a musical instrument donation valued at up to $10,000 to support music education. Submissions for this award are open until August 3, 2026. To apply and view guidelines, click [here](https://www.latingrammyculturalfoundation.org/en/what-we-do/latin-music-educator-award). 

**2026 Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees:**

**Alaska**

The bewitching strain of electronic pop anchored on majestic melodies and provocative lyrics found in Alaska one of its most iconic trendsetters. As part of the bands Alaska y Dinarama and Fangoria, the singer was always ahead of her time. Born in Mexico City in 1963, Olvido Gara Jova moved to Spain at a young age and began her musical career with Kaka de Luxe, one of the first bands of the Spanish punk movement. In 1979, she founded Alaska y los Pegamoides, which four years later evolved into Alaska y Dinarama. Hits such as “Ni Tú Ni Nadie” (1984) and “A Quién Le Importa” (1986) made history with their extraordinary melodic sophistication – an element that would also appear in the sumptuous synth-pop of Fangoria. Alaska remains active in recording studios and concert halls across Spain and Latin America.

**Francisco Céspedes**

To discover the musical worldview of Francisco Céspedes entails venturing into a nocturnal soundscape where the elegance of jazz walks hand in hand with the warmth of bolero. Born in Cuba and established in Mexico, Francisco Fabián Céspedes Rodríguez transcends his Latin roots with a cosmopolitan sound that found devoted followers all over the world. He abandoned his initial vocation as a doctor to devote himself to music, and moved to Mexico City in 1992, where he wrote songs for artists like Luis Miguel, and collaborated with Alejandro Sanz and Plácido Domingo. In 1997, his debut album, Vida Loca, established him as an icon of romantic balladry with the melancholy mood of the title track. Since then, he has been nominated for a Latin GRAMMY® several times, and released many albums, including one with Armando Manzanero. He tours regularly in Europe and Latin America, and released an album earlier this year on which he collaborated with the late Pablo Milanés.

**Lila Downs**

One of the most transcendent ambassadors of Mexican culture, Lila Downs has spent the past thirty years exploring the fertile creative bridge that unites her identity and roots. The daughter of a Mixteca mother and an American father, Ana Lila Downs Sánchez was born in Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca, in 1968. From her very first album, Ofrenda, she showcased a restless creative personality and visionary talent for experimentation and daring musical fusions. In Downs’ creative universe, her stunning vocal range moves comfortably among the velvety textures of jazz, healing cumbia grooves, and the emotional exuberance of bolero. The winner of six Latin GRAMMYs® and a GRAMMY®, Downs released *Cambias Mi Mundo* in 2026, an album that finds her at a transformative creative peak.

**Daniela Mercury**

Daniela Mercury began her career revolutionizing the Brazilian music scene. During her inaugural performance in São Paulo in 1992, she literally shook the foundation of the building, forcing the event to be momentarily interrupted. A pioneer of the new Brazilian genre of axé, the singer and dancer from Salvador, Bahia, brought her powerful voice and precise movements to stages all over the world. Her song “O Canto Da Cidade” became a Brazilian music anthem that has endured for over three decades. With more than 20 million records sold and 26 albums – including the masterpiece *Feijão Com Arroz* (1998) – her innovative fusion of styles is informed by an expansive mosaic of rhythms and colors. Throughout her career she has continued to expand the limits of her sound while offering memorable concerts, including the live album *Balé Mulato*, which garnered a Latin GRAMMY in 2007.

**Chichí Peralta**

Chichí Peralta — musician, singer/songwriter, composer, arranger and producer — is one of the most influential figures in contemporary music from the Dominican Republic. Born in Santo Domingo, he discovered percussion at the age of four, beginning a career that has spanned over four decades, marked by innovation and artist versatility. The founder of Chichí Peralta &amp; Son Familia, he developed a unique sound that blends tradition, modernity and Caribbean identity, enriching Latin American music and showcasing Dominican culture on international stages across the Americas, Europe and Asia. The winner of a Latin GRAMMY in 2001, Peralta has recorded two of his productions with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road and amassed a discography that reflects his ongoing artistic quest, while contributing to shaping future generations of musicians.

**2026 Trustees Award Honoree:**

**Omar Alfanno**

The composer of timeless classics of Latin music such as “El Gran Varón,” “A Puro Dolor,” “Y Hubo Alguien” and “Amores Como El Nuestro,” Omar Alfanno transformed deeply human narratives into songs that are an essential part of the Latin American songbook. Born in Santiago de Veraguas, Panama, in 1957, his songs have been recorded by more than 500 artists, including Gilberto Santa Rosa, Jerry Rivera, Marc Anthony and Shakira. His work contributed to defining the sound of contemporary tropical music, while his narratives and melodic sensibility have served as a reference point for many composers over the past five decades. A member of the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame, and winner of a Latin GRAMMY, Alfanno continues to hone his craft, guiding new talent and promoting musical education among young people with limited financial means in Panama through the Fundación Omar Alfanno.

**Alex Hadad** will serve as executive producer of the event, working under the direction of The Latin Recording Academy’s production team led by **Ayleen Figueras**.

For the latest news, visit the official Latin Recording Academy site at [LatinGRAMMY.com](https://www.latingrammy.com/en). Follow us on Facebook ([LatinGRAMMYs](https://www.facebook.com/latingrammys)), X (@[LatinGRAMMYs](https://www.x.com/latingrammys)) or Instagram (@[LatinGRAMMYs](https://www.instagram.com/latingrammys)), and join the conversation using our official hashtag #LatinGRAMMY on all popular social media platforms.

###

**ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:**

The Latin Recording Academy® is an international nonprofit dedicated to nurturing, celebrating, honoring and elevating Latin music and its creators. Established as the global authority on Latin music, the membership-based organization composed of music professionals produces the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, The Biggest Night in Latin Music®, which honors excellence in the recording arts and sciences, in addition to providing educational and outreach programs for the music community through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®. For more information, please visit [LatinGRAMMY.com](https://www.latingrammy.com/en).

**MEDIA CONTACT:**

**The Latin Recording Academy**

Iveliesse Malavé

[ive@grammy.com](ive@grammy.com)

2026 Special Awards Recipients 

The Latin Recording Academy® Announces Its 2026 Special Awards Recipients 

symposium post event

*Presented by Open Society Foundations, the event united industry leaders to champion mentorship and the advancement of women in music* 

*[Click here](https://dam.gettyimages.com/selects/latin-grammys-leading-ladies-of-entertainment) for images*

*Credit: John Parra and Desiree Navarro/*

*Getty Images for the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation*

**MIAMI (MARCH 5, 2026)** — The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® hosted its first- Leading Ladies of Entertainment Symposium at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel &amp; Casino in Davie, FL, on March 4, convening more than 200 industry professionals for a day dedicated to leadership, mentorship and the advancement of women in music.

The program featured former Leading Ladies of Entertainment honorees including **Róndine Alcalá**, founder of RondenePR, **María Elisa Ayerbe**, Latin GRAMMY®-winning sound engineer, **Goyo**, Latin GRAMMY-nominated artist, **Maricarmen “Tuti” Bou**, Vice President of Sony Music Entertainment Puerto Rico, **Rocío Guerrero**, Global Head of Latin Music for Amazon Music, **Paula Kaminsky**, Managing Director at Global Talent Services US, and **Ana Rosa Santiago**, Senior Vice President of Latin Music for Universal Music Publishing Group.

Additionally, trailblazing women in the industry including **Brenda Carrasco**, Senior VP of Marketing and Artist Strategy, Warner Music Latina, **Thatiana Díaz**, award-winning Editor in Chief at Remezcla and Hip Latina, **María Fernández**, Chief Operating Officer, Latin Iberia at Sony Music Entertainment, **Mary Nuñez**, Vice President, Head of Sync US Latin &amp; Latin America, Warner Chappell Music, **Evelyn Suero**, Founder &amp; attorney at Suero Law, and **Vicky Van**, Univision reporter and radio host, joined the event as guest speakers.

Award-winning journalist **Maity Interiano** served as master of ceremonies. Sessions focused on entrepreneurship, branding and the evolving music industry, complemented by curated networking opportunities. The event concluded with a special performance by Latin GRAMMY and GRAMMY®-nominated artist **Elena Rose**.

Paying-it-forward and forging opportunities for future generations is a core pillar of this initiative. Applications are now open for the Foundation’s fifth cohort of the Leading Ladies of Entertainment Mentorship Program through Monday, April 6, 2026, at [www.latingrammyculturalfoundation.org](http://www.latingrammyculturalfoundation.org/en).

The symposium and mentorship program are presented by Open Society Foundations, the world’s largest private funder of independent groups working for rights, equity and justice.

The Leading Ladies of Entertainment initiative was created by The Latin Recording Academy® in 2016 to honor and recognize professional and socially conscious women within the arts and entertainment fields who have made significant contributions and inspired the next generation of female leaders. To learn about previous honorees click [here](https://www.latingrammy.com/en/awards/leading-ladies-of-entertainment).

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**ABOUT THE LATIN GRAMMY CULTURAL FOUNDATION:**

The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established by The Latin Recording Academy® with the vision of becoming a global champion of music education and empowering communities through Latin music and culture. For over a decade, the Foundation has fostered the next generation of Latin music creators through scholarships, education programs and grants that advance Latin music and celebrate its rich cultural heritage. To date, the Foundation has invested more than $15 million with the support of The Latin Recording Academy’s members, artists, corporate sponsors and other generous donors.For additional information or to donate, please visit [latingrammyculturalfoundation.org](https://www.latingrammyculturalfoundation.org/en) or our [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/latingrammyculturalfoundation) page. And follow us @latingrammyfdn on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/latingrammyfdn), and at Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/latingrammyculturalfoundation) and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/latingrammyculturalfoundation).

**MEDIA CONTACT:**

**The Latin Recording Academy**

Nathalie Alberto

[Nathalie.alberto@grammy.com](Nathalie.alberto@grammy.com)

Leading Ladies Of Entertainment Symposium 

Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® Hosts First Leading Ladies Of Entertainment Symposium

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