Pepe Aguilar, Gloria Estefan, Carín León and More to Perform at 2025 Latin Grammys

The initial slate of performers for the 26th Latin Grammy Awards has been announced, revealing a dynamic mix of music legends and ascendant new talent. This powerful group includes enduring icons such as Pepe Aguilar and Gloria Estefan, as well as contemporary hitmakers like Carín León, Aitana, Ivan Cornejo, DannyLux, Kakalo, Liniker, Morat, and the legendary norteño ensemble Los Tigres del Norte. In a special segment, the 2025 Person of the Year, Raphael, will take the stage for a performance celebrating his iconic career. The three-hour ceremony will be broadcast live on November 13th from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, a familiar location for the awards which were last held there in 2023, following its 2024 ceremony in Miami.

Significantly, every announced artist is either a current nominee or a past honoree, highlighting the show's commitment to artistic merit. Pepe Aguilar, a foundational artist in regional Mexican music for over three decades, is nominated for Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album. Global icon Gloria Estefan, whose career took off with the Miami Sound Machine in the 1980s and has since generated numerous worldwide hits, earned two nominations for Album of the Year and Best Traditional Tropical Album for "Raices." Spanish pop phenomenon Aitana also received two nods, for Best Contemporary Pop Album and Best Recording Package.

The lineup powerfully reflects the current commercial and creative surge of Mexican regional music. Ivan Cornejo and DannyLux are both in contention for Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album, while Kakalo is nominated for Best Regional Song. Carín León leads the pack with an impressive three nominations, contending for Album of the Year, Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album, and Best Regional Song. This genre's explosive growth has made it one of the most vital forces in the global music industry, with streaming numbers and cross-cultural collaborations reaching unprecedented levels.

A cornerstone of the evening will be the tribute to Raphael, named the 2025 Person of the Year in recognition of his extraordinary six-decade career. His role as a global ambassador for Spanish-language music is unparalleled. According to music historian Dr. Elena Márquez, "Raphael's influence is immeasurable; he was one of the first artists to bring Spanish-language pop to international arenas, paving the way for the global Latin music boom we see today." His performance is expected to be a defining, historic moment of the telecast.

Prior to the main gala, the majority of the awards will be presented during the Latin Grammy Premiere ceremony. The Latin Recording Academy has also indicated that further announcements, including additional performers for the show, are planned for the weeks ahead.