Puerto Rican reggaeton star Bad Bunny is poised for a major night as the Latin Grammy Awards return to Las Vegas on Thursday, marking the biggest celebration of Spanish and Portuguese-language music.
The 31-year-old singer, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, leads this year’s nominations with 12 nods, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year, where he will also compete at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards in February.
Bad Bunny’s latest project, “Debi Tirar Más Fotos” (“I Should Have Taken More Photos”), has defined his 2025, continuing a streak that has seen him dominate both streaming charts and stages worldwide.
His recent barnstorming residency in Puerto Rico concluded to sold-out crowds, and he is set to begin a world tour this month in the Dominican Republic.
However, the singer has made headlines for excluding U.S. mainland dates from his tour, citing concerns that his Latino fans could face harassment amid immigration enforcement. The Super Bowl halftime show on February 8 in Santa Clara, California, will be his only U.S. performance, reaching over 100 million viewers globally.
Strong Competition From Across Latin America
Bad Bunny faces stiff competition this year from Argentinian duo Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, whose album “Papota” is up for several major awards after a breakout year touring Latin America alongside Kendrick Lamar.
Producer-songwriter Edgar Barrera, with more than 70 Latin Grammy nominations to his name, is also in contention for Song and Record of the Year for his collaboration with Karol G on “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” (“If I Had Met You Before”).
Karol G’s single “Trópicoqueta” has also earned her a nomination for Best Tropical Song, while she prepares to headline Coachella next year.
See also: Bad Bunny to Headline Super Bowl LX Halftime Show
Brazilian artist Liniker, who became the first transgender performer to win a Latin Grammy in 2022, is nominated seven times for her album “Caju”. Other top contenders include Alejandro Sanz, Carin Leon, Gloria Estefan, Joaquina, Rauw Alejandro, Vicente García, and Natalia Lafourcade, who earned eight nominations.
The Latin Grammys make a grand return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena after recent editions in Spain and Miami. The live broadcast begins at 5 p.m. local time (1 a.m. GMT Friday), featuring performances from Bad Bunny, Karol G, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, Alejandro Sanz, Carlos Santana, Rauw Alejandro, Kacey Musgraves, Joaquina, Christian Nodal, and Grupo Frontera.
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