Karol G leads the 2026 HEAT Latin Music Awards with 10 nominations, as the show makes its Mexico debut on 5 November

The HEAT Latin Music Awards are heading to Mexico for the first time, and Karol G goes in as the most nominated act. The gala is on 5 November 2026 at the Centro Internacional de Convenciones in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, and streams live on LosHeat.tv, where fans can also vote by category.

Who leads

Karol G has 10 nominations, Bad Bunny nine, and Carlos Rivera and Shakira seven each. Belinda has six, Kenia Os four, and Yuridia three. Alejandro Fernández, Carín León, Grupo Frontera, Elena Rose and Rosalía are also in the mix across several categories.

The awards were announced on 24 September, and this edition has 30 categories. The ceremony closes HEAT Week, which runs from 31 October to 5 November, with the state of Jalisco and the municipality of Puerto Vallarta hosting.

Album of the Year

Sixteen records are up for the top album prize:

• Bad Bunny, DtMF
• Rosalía, LUX
• Karol G, Tropicoqueta
• Elena Rose, En Las Nubes: Con Mis Panas
• Carín León, MUDA
• CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso, Free Spirits
• Rawayana, ¿Dónde es el after?
• Kany García, Puerta Abierta
• Alejandro Sanz, ¿Y ahora qué?
• Grupo Frontera, LO QUE ME FALTA POR LLORAR
• Arcángel, La 8va Maravilla
• Alejandro Fernández, De Rey A Rey
• Carlos Rivera, Almas
• Anitta, EQUILIBRIVM
• Mon Laferte, Femme Fatale
• Juan Fernando Velasco, Julio Eterno

A first for regional Mexican music

With the show landing in Jalisco, the headline change is a brand new Best Regional Mexican Artist category, with 17 nominees. They include Christian Nodal, Grupo Firme, Grupo Frontera, Fuerza Regida, Carín León, Alejandro Fernández, Banda MS, Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda, Lucero, Ana Bárbara and Majo Aguilar.

It is a sign of where the centre of gravity in Latin music has moved. Regional Mexican acts now sit beside reggaeton and pop stars in the biggest rooms, and an awards night held in Mexico is making room for them by name.

Awards season is stacking up

HEAT is one stop in a busy few weeks. The Latin Grammys follow on 12 November in Las Vegas, and we have the first performer list for that night here. Many of the same names, Karol G, Bad Bunny, Rosalía, Carín León and Anitta, appear on both sets of ballots.

Check the official HEAT voting page for the full category list, since nomination counts are tallied differently from list to list. We will report the winners after the gala.