The Latin Recording Academy unveiled the first slate of performers for the 26th annual Latin Grammy Awards, which will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 13.
Among the artists announced were música Mexicana acts Carín León, Pepe Aguilar and Los Tigres del Norte; sad sierreño singer-songwriters Ivan Cornejo and DannyLux; Latin pop icon Gloria Estefan, and Colombian rock band Morat.
“Happy to be at the biggest Latin music festival! Even more so because it features music from my Mexico. Long live Mariachi!” Aguilar told The Times. His latest project, “Mi Suerte Es Ser Mexicano,” is nominated for ranchero/mariachi album.
“Very honored to be part of this musical celebration,” León wrote on Instagram. The 36-year-old singer nabbed three nominations, including for album of the year, contemporary Mexican music album for his LP “Palabra de To’s (Seca),” as well as regional song for “Si Tú Me Vieras,” which features Maluma. León will make history next year by being the first Latin music act to perform at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The one-of-a-kind venue features a 16K resolution wraparound LED screen.
.
“It’s crazy to even say that I’m performing at the Latin Grammys. I think of my parents, all their struggles, and how far we’ve come,” DannyLux shared in a statement. “This isn’t just my moment. It’s for every kid who grew up watching their parents fight for a better life.”
The 21-year-old Coachella Valley native celebrated his second Latin Grammy nomination (“Leyenda” is up for contemporary Mexican music album) by unveiling a billboard on Sunset Boulevard that paid tribute to his parents.
Spanish singer Raphael, who will receive the 2025 Person of the Year award, is also expected to grace the stage. The honoree’s career spans six decades, first wowing crowds during Eurovision Song contests in 1966 and 1967, where he gained recognition for his love-struck ballads “Yo Soy Aquél” and “Hablemos del Amor,” respectively.
Now in its 37th year, South by Southwest, the annual arts and tech conference that runs March 7-15 in Austin, Texas, has no shortage of stellar Latin music acts on its roster.
Newsletter
The Latinx experience chronicled
Get the Latinx Files newsletter for stories that capture the multitudes within our communities.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
On March 11, we at De Los will host our second annual SXSW showcase at Mala Fama. Arsenal Efectivo, Edgar Alejandro and Midnight Navy will star in the program, which you can find here.
In the meantime, below are 10 essential Latino performances we’ll be penciling into our schedule, listed in chronological order.
Corpus Christi-based DJ and cumbia electronica pioneer El Dusty will be on the decks, melding soul, reggae and house with his homegrown Tejano groove.
He will perform a second SXSW showcase on Wednesday at Rivian Park from 3-3:40 p.m., as well as a third performance Thursday at Hotel Vegas from 12:40-1:20 a.m.
Grammy-winning Honduran producer Trooko has been credited on a number of acclaimed releases, including records by Beyoncé, M.I.A., Residente and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “The Hamilton Mixtape.” Yet this year, Trooko will go back to his roots by spinning at La Subcultura’s epic club night.
Vanessa Zamora March 11 at Flamingo Cantina 10-10:40 p.m.
The daughter of Mexican pianists, bilingual indie darling Vanessa Zamora upped the ante by mastering the acoustic guitar, keyboard and drums to craft her own dreamy, psychedelic approach to pop music.
She will perform a second show March 14 at Vaquero Taquero from 10-10:40pm.
Hailing from the South Side of Chicago, the post-punk romantics will usher in the moonrise at SXSW on multiple nights. Their festival dates are a preview of their North American No Llores Tour, which will see the band passing through the U.S. and Mexico before landing at the Regent Theater in Los Angeles on May 18.
Their second official SXSW showcase will take place March 15 at Las Perlas from 10-10:40 p.m.
Gale March 13 at the Moody Theater 7:45 p.m.-8:15 p.m.
The Latin Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Gale (pronounced “gah-leh”) packs a punch in her indie-tinged pop music. Lauded as the “Latin It Girl” by Rolling Stone, the Puerto Rican starlet will grace the stage at its “Future of Music” showcase.
Si necesitas reggaetón: Valé. The Baranquilla native brings punk baddie energy to her perreo- and R&B-infused dance tracks like “Fit Mami” and the newer “Arrebatao.”
Twin Shadow March 13 at Coconut Club 9:30-10:30 p.m.
The Dominican American synth-pop hero will tease new songs from his sixth studio album, “Georgie,” a tribute to his late father. After years of cutting up dance floors with guitar tracks like “Five Seconds” and “Saturdays” (with Haim!), “Georgie “ will be his first album sans drums. Get into it.
He will also perform a second show March 14 at Central Presbyterian Church from 10-11 p.m.
Quirky Argentine MCs Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso enjoyed a career breakthrough last year with their appearance on NPR’s “Tiny Desk” series, which became the No. 1 most-watched episode of 2024. “With ‘Tiny Desk,’ we feel that we hacked the system,” said Amoroso in an interview with De Los this week. At SXSW, they’ll serve an encore.
Oya Baby March 13 at the Speakeasy Kabaret 10:50-11:05 p.m.
The audacious Cuban MC Oya Baby cut her teeth as a backup dancer for Pitbull, Bad Bunny and Flo Rida before she signed a record deal with the latter’s International Music Group label. She shared an electric collaboration with Miami hip-hop legend Trina in her 2022 single “Ride the Stick” and bounced back in January with a swaggering reggaeton single, “Perra.”
Ivan Cornejo March 13 at the Moody Theater 10:55 p.m.–midnight
Música Mexicana’s prince of darkness will command the Moody Theater on Thursday night with releases from his outstanding 2024 LP “Mirada,” as well as his first hit, “Está Dañada,” which debuted on the Billboard 100 when he was just 17.
