Shakira and Karol G led the list of Colombian artists who won at the 2026 Premios Juventud, held in Europe for the first time. Credit: AI Vasquez, CC BY 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons
The 2026 edition of Premios Juventud featured several of the biggest names in Latin music as the main stars of the night. Shakira and Aitana were among the artists who collected the most awards, with three wins each, while Karol G and Bad Bunny also took home trophies in some of the ceremony’s most important categories.
The ceremony was also historic because it was held in Europe for the first time. The event took place at the Starlite Amphitheatre in Marbella, Spain, marking a new chapter for an awards show that for years was primarily hosted in different cities across the United States. This year’s edition featured 50 categories covering music, television, digital entertainment and pop culture.
Colombian singer Shakira emerged as one of the night’s biggest winners with three awards. Among them were the Premios Juventud Female Artist award and Best Pop Song for “Besame,” her collaboration with Alejandro Sanz. She also received the OMG Collaboration award alongside Burna Boy for “Dai Dai,” a song associated with the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Aitana and Alejandro Fernandez were also among the biggest winners at the 2026 Premios Juventud
Spanish singer Aitana had an equally successful night, finishing with three trophies. She was recognized for “Superestrella” in the Best Euro-Song category and also won Best Pop Album for Cuarto Azul. She added another award in the Couple Goals category, which she shared with Plex.
The result made Aitana one of the central figures of the first European edition of Premios Juventud. Her presence also reflected the growing participation of Spanish artists in an awards ceremony traditionally associated with Latin American music. For this edition, organizers introduced categories and initiatives aimed at expanding the event’s reach across Europe.
Alejandro Fernandez also received three awards during the ceremony. The Mexican singer was among the artists with the highest number of wins, thanks to recognitions for songs spanning different genres. His performance highlighted the diversity of styles represented at Premios Juventud, where urban, pop, tropical, and Mexican music coexist.
Meanwhile, Karol G won two awards. The Colombian artist received Album of the Year for Tropicoqueta, one of the productions nominated in the ceremony’s leading category. She also won Best Urban Rhythmic Song for “Verano Rosa,” a collaboration with Feid.
Colombia stood out among the winning artists
Colombian artists played an important role in the ceremony’s results. Shakira and Karol G led the country’s list of winners, while other figures from the Colombian music industry were also connected to award-winning productions during the event.
In addition to her two individual awards, Karol G shared the Best Urban Rhythmic Song award with Feid for “Verano Rosa.” The result once again highlighted the collaboration between two of Colombia’s leading figures in urban music.
Beéle was also among the Colombians recognized during the night. The artist won Latin Afrobeat Song of the Year for “Enemigos,” a track featuring Ozuna and produced by Ovy On The Drums. The award highlighted the incorporation of Afrobeat influences into contemporary Latin music.
Producer Ovy On The Drums was also recognized for his contribution to the production, strengthening the presence of Colombian creative professionals behind some of the night’s winning songs. In this way, the awards highlighted not only performers but also the creative and production work coming out of Colombia.
The Colombian delegation also included figures such as Greeicy, J Balvin, Ryan Castro and Morat, who participated in different areas, categories, collaborations and performances connected to the ceremony. They were joined by Aria Vega, representing a new generation of Colombian artists beginning to gain visibility on the international music scene.
@greeicychile “YAPAQUÉ” en Premios Juventud 2026.❤️🔥 @Greeicy @FARRU @Steve Aoki #Greeicy #Farruko #SteveAoki #Colombia #Chile ♬ sonido original – GREEICY CHILE
Bad Bunny wins Male Artist and Best Tour
Bad Bunny also had a notable night in terms of awards. The Puerto Rican artist won two trophies, including Premios Juventud Male Artist and Best Tour for the Debi Tirar Mas Fotos World Tour. The recognitions add to the artist’s impact during 2026, with both his music and touring activity maintaining a strong presence on the international scene.
The list of winners also included Romeo Santos and Prince Royce, who received Best Tropical Album for Better Late Than Never. The project brought together two of the best-known names in bachata and allowed them to compete in a category dedicated to tropical sounds.
Cazzu, meanwhile, won Best Cumbia Song for “Con Otra,” while other awards were distributed among artists representing different genres and generations of Latin music. The variety of winners ensured that the ceremony was not dominated exclusively by performers with the highest number of nominations.
The gala also honored figures whose influence extends beyond music. Antonio Banderas, Marc Anthony and Yandel were recognized as Agents of Change for their cultural and social impact, adding another dimension to a ceremony focused primarily on entertainment.