The 26th Annual Latin Grammy Awards turned Las Vegas into a celebration of tropical rhythms last night, with salsa and bachata getting a prominent spotlight alongside the night’s biggest winner, Bad Bunny, who took home multiple awards including Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos, a project that blends reggaeton with Afro-Caribbean grooves and unmistakable salsa accents.

Bad Bunny’s Salsa Journey Comes Full Circle

On Debí Tirar Más Fotos, Bad Bunny leans into live arrangements, salsa patterns and classic Caribbean grooves that feel just as comfortable on a social dance floor as they do on a stadium stage. The album’s success builds on the momentum of his historic El Choli residency in Puerto Rico, where he turned the finale into a full-on salsa showcase with live bands and guest salseros.

Last night’s win also adds extra weight to his upcoming Super Bowl halftime appearance, where his team has hinted at heavy use of live tropical instrumentation, echoing the direction suggested by his salsa-infused single “Baile Inolvidable” and its now-iconic video, in which he takes a full salsa class before stepping onto the dance floor. Together, the album, the live performances and the visuals show that his embrace of salsa is more than a passing experiment, it is a core part of his current sound.

Rubén Blades and Roberto Delgado Win Big for Salsa

In the salsa field, the Latin Grammys once again recognized one of the genre’s most respected voices. Rubén Blades, together with Roberto Delgado y Orquesta, picked up top honors in the salsa category, continuing a long-running collaboration that has helped keep big-band salsa front and center.

Their latest work is packed with rich horn arrangements, clever storytelling and the kind of hard-hitting arrangements that feel just as comfortable on a concert stage as they do on a crowded social. For dancers, it is a reminder that classic salsa dura is still very much alive and evolving, even as urbano and pop dominate the charts.

Eddy Herrera Gives Bachata Lovers Something New To Spin

On the bachata side, Dominican star Eddy Herrera brought home a Latin Grammy in the Merengue/Bachata field with a project that leans into his merengue roots while weaving in bachata’s romantic swing. The result is a crossover sound that fits perfectly at socials where DJs mix merengue, bachata and salsa in the same night.

For social dancers who already rely on Herrera’s catalog to warm up the floor, this new Grammy-winning release adds extra shine. Expect to hear more of his tracks showing up in festival lineups and weekly socials over the coming months.

Tropical Legends Gloria Estefan and Vicente García Add To The Celebration

Two more tropical categories delivered fresh music that will likely make its way onto salsa and crossover playlists.

Gloria Estefan was recognized for a project that returns to her Caribbean roots, revisiting classic Cuban and tropical sounds with a traditional approach. While much of it leans toward listening rather than straight-ahead salsa, its foundation in son, bolero and old-school arrangements makes it a natural fit for DJs who like to sprinkle in vintage Cuban flavor between modern salsa sets.

Vicente García, meanwhile, took home honors in a contemporary tropical category with an album that blends Caribbean folkloric elements and modern production. It is not a pure salsa or bachata record, but its rhythmic palette sits comfortably in the same world, especially for more experimental DJs who like to mix in tropical fusion and Caribbean neo-folklore around their salsa and bachata blocks.

A Good Night For Dance Floors Everywhere

Between Rubén Blades’ win in the salsa category, Eddy Herrera’s recognition in the merengue and bachata field, Gloria Estefan and Vicente García’s tropical projects, and Bad Bunny’s salsa-infused Album of the Year, the 2025 Latin Grammys sent a clear signal that salsa, bachata and their tropical cousins are not side notes but central to where Latin music is headed right now.