Veteran Spanish artist Alejandro Sanz secured one of the biggest upsets of the night at the 26th Annual Latin Grammy Awards, taking home the coveted Record of the Year award. Sanz won for his slow, emotive pop ballad, “Palmeras En El Jardín,” beating out the overwhelming favorite, Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, who was nominated twice in the major category. The ceremony was held last night, Thursday, November 13, 2025, in Las Vegas.
The surprise win adds to Sanz’s legendary status; this marks his eighth Record of the Year victory, cementing his place as the most awarded artist in that specific category in Latin Grammy history. The victory was one of two major awards for the Spanish singer, who also secured the Grammy for Best Contemporary Pop Album for ¿Y Ahora Qué?, pushing his total career tally to a staggering 24 Latin Grammys.
The unexpected result generated audible murmurs among the crowd, who widely expected Bad Bunny to sweep the major categories. Sanz addressed the tension directly in his acceptance speech, joking in Spanish, “Benito, I stole it from you. Forgive me,” which led to a moment of good-natured laughter and a knowing smile from the Urban artist. The comment highlighted the generational handover taking place in Latin music, even as the veteran Sanz continues to triumph.
While Bad Bunny dominated the urban categories and clinched the prestigious Album of the Year award for Debí Tirar Más Fotos, the Alejandro Sanz Record of the Year win proves that classic pop craftsmanship still holds sway with Latin Recording Academy voters. The victory caps a powerful night that balanced historic wins for new stars like Karol G (Song of the Year) and Bad Bunny with enduring recognition for Latin music royalty.
