Bad Bunny in box seat as Latin Grammys hit Vegas

Bad Bunny appears poised for a major night on Thursday as the Latin Grammys — the premier celebration of Spanish- and Portuguese-language music — return to Las Vegas. The global reggaeton phenomenon leads the nominations with twelve, including Best Album, Best Record, and Best Song, categories in which he is also competing at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards scheduled for February.

A win for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” (“I Should Have Taken More Photos”) would add yet another milestone to a remarkable year for the 31-year-old artist, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio. He recently concluded a widely praised residency in Puerto Rico and is preparing to launch a world tour beginning this month in the Dominican Republic.

The star generated headlines after announcing that his tour would exclude stops on the U.S. mainland, citing concerns that his fans could be targeted by immigration raids conducted under President Donald Trump. The only U.S. exception will be his performance at the Super Bowl halftime show on February 8 in Santa Clara, California. The halftime event, staged during the NFL championship game, consistently ranks among the most-watched television broadcasts of the year, drawing more than 100 million viewers in the United States and many millions more internationally.

At the Latin Grammys, Bad Bunny will face strong competition from Argentine duo Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, whose album “Papota” is aiming for several top awards. These nominations mark a first for the explosive hip-hop pair, who recently served as opening acts for Kendrick Lamar during a series of Latin American concerts. Lamar himself is considered a major contender for the 2026 Grammys.

Producer and songwriter Edgar Barrera — already the recipient of more than 70 Latin Grammy nominations throughout his career — is also competing 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”). Another track from the album, “Tropicoqueta,” earned Karol G a nomination for Best Tropical Song. The Colombian superstar is also slated to headline Coachella next year.

Brazilian singer Liniker, who made history in 2022 as the first transgender artist to win a Latin Grammy, enters the event with seven nominations for her album “Caju,” including the three most prestigious categories. Other major nominees include Alejandro Sanz, Carin León, Gloria Estefan, Joaquina, Rauw Alejandro, Vicente García, and Natalia Lafourcade, who holds eight nominations.

This year’s ceremony returns to the MGM Grand Garden Arena after previous editions in Spain and Miami. The show begins at 5 p.m. and will feature performances by Bad Bunny, Karol G, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, Alejandro Sanz, Carlos Santana, Rauw Alejandro, Kacey Musgraves, Edgar Barrera, Joaquina, Christian Nodal, Nathy Peluso, Elena Rose, and Grupo Frontera.