Berklee Alumni and Faculty Nominated for the 2026 Latin Grammy Awards

The Latin Recording Academy announced the nominations for the 27th annual Latin Grammy Awards on September 16, with 28 Berklee alumni and faculty receiving 29 nominations across 20 categories, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Engineered Album. The biggest night in Latin music will take place Thursday, November 12, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The ceremony’s telecast will air on Univision.

Six-time Latin Grammy winner and 16-time nominee Lewis Pickett BM ’09 received nominations in the categories of Record of the Year and Album of the Year for his work as mixer and mastering engineer on “Ha Ha” and Free Spirits by CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso; the album was also nominated for Best Alternative Music Album. 

The Miguel Zenón Quartet was recognized with its first Latin Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz/Jazz Album for Vanguardia Subterránea: Live at The Village Vanguard. The group, led by Grammy Award-winning alumnus and alto saxophonist Zenón BM ’98, also features Hans Glawischnig BM ’92 on bass and associate professor Luis Perdomo on piano.

Two additional faculty members received nominations this year. Berklee Valencia associate professor Alex Conde BM ’09 received a nomination for Best Latin Jazz/Jazz Album for Paco De Lucia Music For Big Band. Berta Rojas, an associate professor in the Berklee Guitar Department, was nominated for her fifth Latin Grammy Award for La Huella De Las Cuerdas for Best Instrumental Album.

Below is a full list of Berklee alumni and faculty Latin Grammy nominees. Please note that the list is subject to change as we receive updated information; submit additional nominations here. 

Record of the Year

“Ha Ha,” CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso

• Lewis Pickett BM ’09, mixer and mastering engineer

“Dime,” Silvana Estrada

• Daniel Bitrán Arizpe BM ’13, record producer, engineer, mixer
• J.C. Vertti BM ’12, recording engineer

“Femme Fatale,” Mon Laferte

• Daniel Bitrán Arizpe BM ’13, recording engineer
• Lu Garibay ’16, recording engineer  

“La Perla,” Rosalía Featuring Yahritza y Su Esencia

• Brian Lee BM ’92, mastering engineer

Album of the Year

Free Spirits, CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso

• Lewis Pickett BM ’09, mixer and mastering engineer 

Vendrán Suaves Lluvias, Silvana Estrada

• Daniel Bitrán Arizpe BM ’13, record producer, engineer, mixer
• J.C. Vertti BM ’12, recording engineer 

LUX (Complete Works), Rosalía

• Brian Lee BM ’92, mastering engineer

Song of the Year

“Hasta Jesús Tuvo Un Mal Día,” CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso featuring Sting

• John Ryan BM ’10, songwriter

Best Pop Song

“A La Niña Que Fui,” Kany García

• Nate Campany BM ’03, songwriter

Best Electronic Music Performance

“Armándola De Pedo,” Kinky 

• Ulises Lozano PD ’90, keys/synth

Best Rock Album

Malicia, Mägo De Oz

• Fernando Mainer BM ’02, bass
• Jorge Salán ’01, guitar

Best Pop/Rock Song

“Hasta Jesús Tuvo Un Mal Día,” CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso featuring Sting

• John Ryan BM ’10, songwriter

Best Alternative Song

“Ante la duda, baila,” Jorge Drexler

• Ben Aler (Benja Alerhand Sissa) BM ’19, songwriter
• Gabriel Lugo BM ’12, songwriter

Best Salsa Album

El Relevo, Luis Figueroa ’11

Best Merengue/Bachata Album

Chula, Techy Fatule (Marielle Fatule) ’10

Best Tropical Song

“Crayola,” Danny Ocean

• Manuel Lara ’14, songwriter

“Nombre y Apellido,” Luis Enrique

• Leon Yamil (Leon Subervi Ramos) BM ’18, songwriter

Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album

La Fernández, Camila Fernández ’18

Best Instrumental Album

La Huella De Las Cuerdas, Berta Rojas, associate professor

A Tribute To Benny Moré And Nat King Cole, Yainer Horta ’02, with Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Joey Calveiro

Best Latin Jazz/Jazz Album

Paco De Lucia Music For Big Band, Alex Conde BM ’09, associate professor at Berklee Valencia

Vanguardia Subterránea: Live at The Village Vanguard, Miguel Zenón Quartet 

• Miguel Zenón BM ’98, alto saxophone
• Luis Perdomo, associate professor, piano  
• Hans Glawischnig BM ’92, bass

Best Children’s Album

Mil Secretos, Cantoalegre and Marta Gómez BM ’02

¡A Jugar!, Danilo & Chapis (Cristina Abaroa) PD ’91

Best Classical Composition

“Odisea: Concerto For Venezuelan Cuatro And Orchestra,” Gustavo Dudamel, Jorge Glem, and Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela

• Gonzalo Grau PD ’98, composer 

Best Music For Visual Media

La Casa De Los Espíritus (Banda Sonora Original De La Serie De Amazon Prime)

• Matthew Atticus Berger BM ’09, composer

Best Arrangement

“Dando Y Dando,” Luis Enrique

• Gonzalo Grau PD ’98, arranger

Best Engineered Album

Lux (Complete Works), Rosalia

• Brian Lee BM ’92, mastering engineer

Best Short Form Music Video

“INRI,” Los Tres

• Francisco Molina PD ’07, drums