Eight Cuban artists are among the nominees for the 27th Annual Latin Grammy Awards, the official list of which was released this Wednesday by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. The ceremony will take place on November 12, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be broadcast live on Univision.
The Cuban presence encompasses categories as diverse as Best Traditional Tropical Album, Best Contemporary Tropical Album, Best Tropical Song, Latin Jazz, Instrumental Music, and Classical Composition.
Omara Portuondo, at 95 years old, is once again competing for Best Traditional Tropical Album with Eternamente Omara, a new testament to the enduring presence of the longest-serving voice of the Buena Vista Social Club. In the same category, the Cuban artists Dayhan Díaz, with Algo Nuevo de Ayer, and Leoni Torres, with Cualquiera Se Enamora, are also featured. Completing the list of nominees are Los Tri-O and Gilberto Santa Rosa.
The pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba has received two nominations: Best Latin Jazz Album/Jazz for Gonzalo Plays Pino and Best Instrumental Album with A Tribute To Benny Moré And Nat King Cole, a project by the Gonzalo Rubalcaba Trio. In this latter nomination, he shares the spotlight with Joey Calveiro and the Cuban saxophonist Yainer Horta, who thus adds his own presence among the nominees of this edition.
Among the names that enhance Cuban representation, Yeisy Rojas is nominated for Best Tropical Song with Latino, while composer Tania León competes in Best Classical Work/Composition with Raíces (Origins) - Live. Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Alex Cuba is pursuing the award for Best Contemporary Tropical Album with Índole.
Aside from the competitive nominations, Francisco «Pancho» Céspedes will receive the 2026 Excellence in Music Award, a special recognition announced by the Academy at the end of June, which will be presented to him on November 9 during Latin Grammy Week in Las Vegas, alongside Alaska, Omar Alfanno, Lila Downs, Daniela Mercury, and Chichí Peralta. The singer-songwriter born in Santa Clara was confirmed for this honor as one of the greats of his generation.
Cuba arrives at this edition with a strong recent history: Omara Portuondo won the 2023 Latin Grammy for Best Traditional Tropical Album for Vida, and in the previous edition, artists like Gloria Estefan and Chucho Valdés also shone during the ceremony. The ceremony on November 12 will reveal how many of these eight Cuban nominees will take home the golden gramophone.
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