News
Luciana Ortega Named Inaugural Recipient Of The Latin Music Educator Award
Latin GRAMMYs/Oct 28, 2025 - 01:00 PM
The Latin Recording Academy®, in partnership with the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®, will celebrate the honoree at the Special Awards Presentation during the 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Week in Las Vegas
Photo credit: Simón Díaz
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MIAMI (OCTOBER 28, 2025) — The Latin Recording Academy®, in partnership with the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®, is proud to announce Luciana Ortega of the Instituto Santa María de San Carlos, in Chile, as the inaugural recipient of the Latin Music Educator Award. This new distinction honors an exceptional educator from the global music community who is making a significant impact by incorporating Latin music into their curriculum. Ortega has been teaching music for over 10 years, and she currently leads more than 400 high school students in a holistic music curriculum that extends beyond simply playing instruments.
As part of the award, Ortega’s school’s music program will receive a $10,000 instrument donation to support continued music education. Additionally, she will receive an all-expense paid trip to attend the Special Awards Presentation where she will be honored during the 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Week in Las Vegas.
“We are proud to honor Luciana Ortega with the first Latin Music Educator Award,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “Her daily commitment to music students brings to life our mission to honor, celebrate, nurture and elevate Latin music and those that ensure its enduring legacy.”
“This recognition transcends my name; it reflects a collective history we have woven with love, perseverance, and meaning. My family, my students, and music have been the pillars of a transformation that goes far beyond the classroom,” shared Ortega. “In every note, the memory of our people, the strength of our roots, and the hope for a more humane future vibrate. I understand that educating through music goes beyond teaching sounds, and is also about awakening consciousness, healing wounds, and sowing identity. This recognition honors that journey: that of those of us who believe that art can transform life and reconcile humanity with its land. Music has taught us to listen to the world with tenderness and to transform reality with love; and that, more than an achievement, is a form of transcendence.”
Ortega’s teaching approach aims to establish a deep connection with cultural identity, ingenuity and using music to transform challenges into creative opportunities, or as she puts it “El alma de la música como motor de aprendizaje” (The soul of music as an instrument for learning). She was selected from a highly competitive pool of international applicants through a rigorous process led by the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, with evaluations by a distinguished committee of music educators and academic experts and voting coordinated by The Latin Recording Academy’s Awards Department. The Board of Trustees of The Latin Recording Academy made the final selection.
This recognition marks a full circle milestone for Ortega, whose passion for music was ignited as a student at the very same school where she now teaches. As a music educator, she is committed to creating new learning experiences for her students, understanding the intrinsic value of music and the arts in their lives and society.
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ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:
The Latin Recording Academy® is a 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.
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. In 2024, the Foundation celebrated its 10-year anniversary, and during the last decade, it 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 donated more than $13.9 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 or our Facebook page. And follow us @latingrammyfdn on Instagram, and at Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on Facebook and LinkedIn.
MEDIA CONTACT:
The Latin Recording Academy
Nathalie Alberto
News
Rauw Alejandro, Edgar Barrera, Grupo Frontera, Joaquina, Kacey Musgraves, Christian Nodal, Nathy Peluso, Elena Rose, Carlos Santana and Alejandro Sanz To Perform At The 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®
Latin GRAMMYs/Oct 21, 2025 - 01:00 PM
The Latin GRAMMYs® will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, in Las Vegas,
on Thursday, Nov. 13
Click here for images
MIAMI (OCTOBER 21, 2025) — The Latin Recording Academy® announced additional performers for the 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®. The lineup includes current nominees Rauw Alejandro, Edgar Barrera, Joaquina, Christian Nodal, Nathy Peluso, Elena Rose, Alejandro Sanz and Adelaido “Payo” Solis III (Grupo Frontera). Also set to perform are Latin GRAMMY® winners Grupo Frontera, eight-time GRAMMY® winner Kacey Musgraves, and multi-GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY winner Carlos Santana.
For this year’s Latin GRAMMYs®, Rauw Alejandro secured two nominations including Album Of The Year and Best Reggaeton Performance, while Edgar Barrera nabbed 10 nominations including Song Of The Year, Best Pop Song, Best Urban Song, Best Tropical Song, Best Regional Song, Songwriter Of The Year and Producer Of The Year. Joaquina received four nominations including Album Of The Year, Best Contemporary Pop Album, Best Pop/Rock Song and Best Singer-Songwriter Song, and Christian Nodal was nominated for Best Ranchero/ Mariachi Album. Nathy Peluso garnered two nominations including Best Urban/Urban Fusion Performance and Best Urban Song, while Elena Rose earned four nominations including Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Best Contemporary Pop Album and Best Latin Electronic Music Performance. Alejandro Sanz received four nominations including Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Best Contemporary Pop Album, while Adelaido “Payo” Solis III (Grupo Frontera) was nominated for Best Regional Song.
Previously announced performers included current nominees Pepe Aguilar, Aitana, Ivan Cornejo, DannyLux, Gloria Estefan, Kakalo, Carín León, Liniker, Morat and Los Tigres del Norte, as well as the 2025 Person of the Year, Raphael.
The 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 13. The three-hour telecast will be produced by TelevisaUnivision, the leading Spanish-language media company in the world, airing across TelevisaUnivision’s U.S. platforms, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central), preceded by a one-hour pre-show starting at 7 p.m. ET/PT (6 p.m. Central).
The Latin GRAMMY Premiere®, where the majority of the categories are awarded, will precede the telecast. Additional details about this long-established afternoon full of unforgettable performances, heartfelt acceptance speeches and Latin GRAMMY® moments will be announced soon.
For the latest news, visit the official Latin Recording Academy site at LatinGRAMMY.com. Follow us on Facebook (LatinGRAMMYs), Instagram (@LatinGRAMMYs), the Latin GRAMMYs WhatsApp Channel, and use #LatinGRAMMY on all popular social media platforms. The official Latin GRAMMY app is also available on iOS (Apple) and Android (Google Play).
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ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:
The Latin Recording Academy® is a 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.
MEDIA CONTACT:
The Latin Recording Academy
Iveliesse Malavé
News
Pepe Aguilar, Aitana, Ivan Cornejo, Dannylux, Gloria Estefan, Kakalo, Carín León, Liniker, Morat, Raphael and Los Tigres Del Norte To Perform At The 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®
Latin GRAMMYs/Oct 14, 2025 - 01:00 PM
The Latin GRAMMYs® will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas
on Thursday, Nov. 13
Click here for images
MIAMI (OCTOBER 14, 2025) — The Latin Recording Academy® announced its first roster of performers for the 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®. The lineup includes current nominees Pepe Aguilar, Aitana, Ivan Cornejo, DannyLux, Gloria Estefan, Kakalo, Carín León, Liniker, Morat and Los Tigres del Norte, as well as the 2025 Person of the Year, Raphael.
For this year’s Latin GRAMMYs®, Pepe Aguilar received a nomination for Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album, while Aitana nabbed two nominations for Best Contemporary Pop Album and Best Recording Package. Ivan Cornejo secured a nomination for Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album, and DannyLux earned a nomination in the same category. Gloria Estefan received two nominations including Album Of The Year and Best Traditional Tropical Album, while Kakalo earned a nomination for Best Regional Song. Carín León scored three nominations including Album Of The Year, Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album and Best Regional Song. Liniker garnered six nominations including Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Best Portuguese Language Contemporary Pop Album, Best Portuguese Language Urban Performance and Best Portuguese Language Song. Morat received a nomination for Best Pop/Rock Album, and Los Tigres del Norte earned a nomination for Best Norteño Album. Also set to perform is the 2025 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year™, Raphael, who will be recognized for his more than six-decade career as a multifaceted singer and performer, which has established him as a true ambassador of Latin music worldwide.
The 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 13. The three-hour telecast will be produced by TelevisaUnivision, the leading Spanish-language media company in the world, airing across TelevisaUnivision’s U.S. platforms, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central), preceded by a one-hour pre-show starting at 7 p.m. ET/PT (6 p.m. Central).
The Latin GRAMMY Premiere®, where the majority of the categories are awarded, will precede the telecast. Additional details about this long-established afternoon full of unforgettable performances, heartfelt acceptance speeches and Latin GRAMMY® moments will be announced soon.
For the latest news, visit the official Latin Recording Academy site at LatinGRAMMY.com. Follow us on Facebook (LatinGRAMMYs), Instagram (@LatinGRAMMYs), the Latin GRAMMYs WhatsApp Channel, and use #LatinGRAMMY on all popular social media platforms. The official Latin GRAMMY app is also available on iOS (Apple) and Android (Google Play).
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ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:
The Latin Recording Academy® is a 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.
MEDIA CONTACT:
The Latin Recording Academy
Iveliesse Malavé
News
The Latin Recording Academy® Names Leticia Maldonado As The Official Artist For The 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®
Latin GRAMMYs/Oct 02, 2025 - 01:00 PM
Click here for images
Credit: Timothy Norris/Getty Images for The Latin Recording Academy
MIAMI (OCTOBER 2, 2025) — The Latin Recording Academy® announced that Leticia Maldonado has been selected as the official artist of the 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®.
Maldonado is a Mexican American multimedia sculptor who drew inspiration from the iconic neon signs of Las Vegas to create a three-dimensional luminous glass gramophone surrounded by colorful flowers.
“My personal connection to Latin music is through my grandmother who was a Mariachi singer in her youth,” said Maldonado. “I chose roses to flank the gramophone because to me they are a symbol of love and compassion, and they honor truth and beauty in art, which I believe is the spirit of the Latin GRAMMYs®.”
Having spent her formative years in the desert outskirts of Las Vegas, Maldonado found a passion for nature at an early age. Art has always served the purpose of connection in her life, both to herself through process and to strangers through the exhibitions that she has been a part of, including the She Bends collective, a traveling exhibition of all female identifying benders working in neon, and Construyendo Puentes, a show of Chicano artists from Los Angeles which travelled throughout México.
"As Latin music continues to grow and evolve, its essence remains an inspiration for creators of all backgrounds and mediums," said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. "Leticia’s sculpture highlights the special connection between music and the visual arts, and celebrates the creativity of a new generation of artists."
Since 2001, The Latin Recording Academy has selected a visual artist to convey the importance of music in Latin culture, bridging the gap between these two art forms. Maldonado becomes the 26th visual artist to do so, joining a long-standing tradition shaped by internationally acclaimed artists.
The 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 13. The three-hour telecast will be produced by TelevisaUnivision, the leading Spanish-language media company in the world, airing across TelevisaUnivision’s U.S. platforms, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central), preceded by a one-hour pre-show starting at 7 p.m. ET/PT (6 p.m. Central).
Editor’s Note: The use of 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards official artwork requires express written permission from The Latin Recording Academy. Please send requests to Communications.LatinAcademy@grammy.com.
For the latest news, visit the official Latin Recording Academy site at LatinGRAMMY.com. Follow us on Facebook (LatinGRAMMYs), X (@LatinGRAMMYs), Instagram (@LatinGRAMMYs), the Latin GRAMMYs WhatsApp Channel, and use #LatinGRAMMY on all popular social media platforms. The official Latin GRAMMY app is also available on iOS (Apple) and Android (Google Play).
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ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:
The Latin Recording Academy® is a 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.
MEDIA CONTACT:
The Latin Recording Academy
Nathalie Alberto