The 2026 BMI Latin Awards was one for the books, honoring the songwriters behind Latin music’s past, present and future.
The event, hosted by BMI president & CEO Mike O’Neill, BMI chief revenue & creative officer Mike Steinberg, and BMI vice president of creative Latin, Jesus Gonzalez, took place on Thursday (March 19) at the Fontainebleau Coastal Convention Center in Miami Beach.
Among the honorees was JOP, frontman of Fuerza Regida, for the BMI Regional Mexican Songwriter of the Year award after writing nine of BMI’s most-performed regions Mexican music songs in 2025.
Legendary reggaeton producer duo Luny Tunes were awarded the BMI President’s Award for their roles in some of the most impactful reggaeton songs in history, including Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina,” Don Omar’s “Dale Don Dale,” Wisin y Yandel’s “Rakatan,” and Hector y Tito’s “Baila Morena.”
Venezuelan singer Elena Rose also became the first female Latin artist to be awarded the BMI Impact Award after releasing her debut album, Bendito Verano, last year. Rose has also collaborated with other hit makers including Becky G, Karol G and Myke Towers.
“I have learned to honor every person who is part of this industry — the songwriters, the producers, the engineers, the assistants, the managers — everyone can impact the lives of the people they work with and those who later receive the music,” Rose said when accepting the award.
Karol G and songwriter Edgar Barrera took home the award for Contemporary Latin Song of the Year for “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” the single from Karol’s 2025 album Tropicoqueta.
Puerto Rican-Dominican producer MAG was named Contemporary Songwriter of the Year, notably writing some of the massive Bad Bunny hits that dominated the year including DtMF,” “Baile Inolvidable,” “El Clúb” and “NuevaYol.”
