2025 Latin Grammys: Nominations Snubs & Surprises

Although Billboard accurately predicted Joaquina’s nomination in the album of the year category for al romper la burbuja, it is a delightful surprise to see the youngest-ever winner of the Latin Grammy for best new artist in 2023 being considered for the biggest award of the night with her debut LP at just 21 years old.

While the Latin Recording Academy could not confirm to Billboard whether Joaquina is the youngest artist ever nominated for album of the year, she is certainly the youngest this year, with the other contenders in the category all over 30.

al romper la burbuja was included in the top five of Billboard’s list of The 25 Best Latin Music Albums of 2025 So Far, published mid-year. Joaquina has three other nominations: best contemporary pop album, best pop/rock song for “no llamares lo mío muestro,” and best singer-songwriter song for “aeropuerto.”

It made history in May when it debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, becoming the highest-charting Spanish-language album by a duo or group, or a regional Mexican music act, ever. It was ranked at No. 1 by Billboard‘s staff on The 25 Best Latin Albums of 2025 So Far list published in July. And it was included in our Latin Grammy nominations predictions.

But Fuerza Regida’s 111XPANTIA not only wasn’t nominated for album of the year — it was completely snubbed from the Latin Grammys, not making it even into the Mexican music categories.

The only mention the band received this year was for best regional song, for its collaboration “Me Jalo” with Grupo Frontera, which is not included on the album.

Also included among the Billboard editors’ Best 25 Latin Music Albums of 2025 So Far list, the omission of Natti Natasha En Amargue in the best merengue/bachata album category is quite unexpected, especially considering there are only three titles competing this year for that award.

Elegantly produced by the King of Bachata Romeo Santos, Natti Natasha’s first album in this genre showcased a new side of the Dominican singer, who showed off her deep, raspy voice as she addressed topics such as heartbreak and betrayal with empowering lyrics of growth and self-respect. The album reached No. 6 on Billboard‘s Top Tropical Albums chart and spent 10 weeks on the ranking.

Another pleasant surprise was CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso’s whopping 10 nominations for their EP Papota. Ranked No. 3 on our mid-year Laitn albums list, the set serves up a musical feast on steroids, as its name suggests, with a delicious blend of jazz, hip-hop, percussion, horns and humorous truths on every track.

The Argentine duo, who has become an international sensation both for its flamboyant charisma and musical virtuosity, was Billboard‘s Latin Artist on the Rise for the month of April.

Snubbed for a second year in a row, Mexican hit-maker Xavi — who was named Artist of the Year (New) at the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards — had a lot to show for within the Latin Grammys eligibility period this year, from his album NEXT to his singles “En Privado” with Manuel Turizo, “Hija de Papi” with Netón Vega, and “Mírame Feliz” with Belinda. So we were surprised to see him again not among the nominees.

Xavi, known for his signature romantic tumbados and his unparalleled voice, has captivated a new generation of listeners with hits like “La Diabla” and “La Víctima” — with the former topping Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart for 14 weeks, and the latter reaching No. 2. Only a few months ago, he became the youngest songwriter of the year winner at 2025 ASCAP Latin Music Awards at 20 years old. He is now 21.

Another artist who didn’t receive a single nomination this year was Danny Ocean, whose heartfelt 2024 EP venequia., dedicated to Venezuela and released during a time of political crisis in his home country, was released within the eligibility period. (His latest LP, Babylon Club, could vie for a nomination in next year’s competition.)

But this wasn’t the only release for which he could have been nominated. Among others, the Venezuelan singer-songwriter released singles like “Vitamina,” “Samaná” with Mau y Ricky and Yorghaki, and “Imagínate” with Kapo, a No. 1 hit on Billboard‘s Latin Airplay chart.

It’s not surprising to see Bad Bunny’s “LA MuDANZA” among the nominees. What’s surprising is seeing it in the best urban song category, when this is actually a salsa song. The last track on the album DeBí TiRAR Más FoToS, “LA MuDANZA” (Spanish for “The Move”) is an ode to the star’s Puerto Rican roots. It begins with Bad Bunny narrating the story of his parents with no background music, before incorporating a salsa orchestration with minimal elements of reggaetón.

Reparto music is having a moment, but none of the many artists popularizing the Cuban genre — from Bebeshito to Wampi — are part of the Latin Grammy nominations this year. Not even six-time Latin Grammy-winner Gente de Zona, who released in May the album Reparto with the hopes of “showing the world the evolution of Cuban reggaetón that defines our culture, and shine a light on the artists who are leading the authentic reparto movement,” said the duo’s member Randy Malcom said in a statement. 

If there’s one emerging artist we would have liked to see on the list of nominees, it’s Venezuelan singer-songwriter Noreh. The 28-year-old musician, highlighted by Billboard among the 22 Latin Artists to Watch in 2025, was eligible with A Film By La Vida Real, a heartfelt album released in mid-May in which he captured some of his most personal experiences through 15 songs. Composed mostly of ballads, the set is as moving as it is heartbreaking, and deserves to be recognized.