Bad Bunny Won Best Latin Award at 2026 VMAs
The artist earned the accolade for his track NUEVAYoL, which appeared on his 2025 album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Latin
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Bad Bunny secured the Best Latin award at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. His winning track, NUEVAYoL, explores themes of Puerto Rican identity and the diaspora experience.
Why it matters
The song title highlights the specific Puerto Rican pronunciation of New York, grounding the track in the cultural heritage of the diaspora. It blends traditional musical elements with modern urbano sounds to bridge generational gaps.
The award-winning song NUEVAYoL samples the 1975 salsa classic Un Verano en Nueva York by El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico and Andy Montañez. The track is featured on the 2025 album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.
The players
Bad Bunny
He is a prominent Puerto Rican artist known for blending traditional Latin music styles with modern reggaeton and urbano influences.
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico
This legendary salsa orchestra is one of the most successful and influential groups in Puerto Rican musical history.
Andy Montañez
He is a celebrated Puerto Rican salsa singer who gained international fame as a lead vocalist for El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico.
Andrés Jiménez
He is a respected Puerto Rican folk singer whose music often focuses on jíbaro traditions and cultural identity.
The details
NUEVAYoL incorporates diverse musical styles, including salsa, plena, bolero, and jíbaro music alongside modern urbano beats. The production also features a distinct vocal sample from folk singer Andrés Jiménez.
Timeline
The original song Un Verano en Nueva York was released in 1975.
The album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS was released in 2025.
Bad Bunny received the Best Latin award in September 2026.
Industry Dynamics
By sampling iconic salsa tracks, Bad Bunny follows a trend of modern artists revitalizing traditional Latin sounds for global streaming audiences. This strategy helps maintain the relevance of legacy music while anchoring new projects in the established cultural history of the diaspora.
Fans can stream the award-winning album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS across major music platforms to hear the blend of salsa and urbano elements. The recognition at the MTV VMAs reinforces the availability and cultural prominence of these tracks in current mainstream playlists.
The takeaway
Bad Bunny continues to elevate Puerto Rican diaspora stories by masterfully weaving ancestral musical traditions into the modern pop landscape. Listeners interested in the cultural context of his work can explore the original folk and salsa roots that define his unique sound.
Further reading
Explore more industry trends on the Latin section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hola.
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