MADRID, Spain.- The 68th edition of the Grammy Awards, held this February 1 in Los Angeles, once again reflected the presence of Cuban music and artists of Cuban origin on the international scene, with several awards in key industry categories.
Singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan won the Grammy for Best Latin Tropical Album for roots, a production that marks his return to the studio with a project focused on traditional Caribbean rhythms. The album, produced by Emilio Estefan, pays tribute to sounds such as son, bolero and salsa, and consolidates the artist’s career as one of the most recognized figures in Latin music globally.
When collecting the prize, Estefan thanked the recognition and alluded to the validity of his artistic career. “Thank you, fifty years later and my heart is still soaring,” said the singer, accompanied by her husband. Addressing Emilio Estefan, he added: “Babe, thank you for this incredible album you produced for me. You continue to be my biggest inspiration.”
With this recognition, Estefan has six Grammy Awards throughout her career, in addition to another five Latin Grammys, a career that places her among the most awarded figures in Spanish music. In 2023, it also marked a milestone in the music industry by becoming the first Latina woman to enter the United States Songwriters Hall of Famea recognition of her influence as the author and creator of some of the most emblematic songs of contemporary popular music.
In the category of Best Latin Jazz Album, the pianist Gonzalo Rubalcabaalong with Yainer Horta and Joey Calveiro, was awarded for A Tribute to Benny Moré & Nat King Cole. The album proposes a dialogue between jazz and Cuban musical tradition, with an explicit tribute to Benny Moré, one of the most influential figures of popular music on the Island.
Likewise, the production Buena Vista Social Club – The Musical received the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album, thanks to the recording associated with the staging inspired by the legacy of the emblematic Cuban musical project. The recognition confirms the international validity of this repertoire and its adaptation to new stage formats.
Beyond the awards obtained, the Cuban presence at the 2026 Grammys was also reflected in several nominations, a sign of the continuity and relevance of musicians from the Island and the diaspora within the international music industry.
Among the nominated artists was Alain Pérez, included in the category of Best Latin Tropical Album for Bingo, a project in which prominent figures of Latin music such as Gilberto Santa Rosa, Tito Nieves, Issac Delgado and Luis Enrique come together, and which reaffirms his career as a composer, producer and performer.
Likewise, the singer Daymé Arocena was nominated in the category of Best Latin Jazz Album for her participation in The Original Influencers: Dizzy, Chano y Chico, a production that pays tribute to historical references of the genre and that highlights its projection within contemporary jazz.
