The Latin Artists We’re Rooting for in 2026

This Venezuelan supertrio — composed of Veztalone, Irepelusa, and Frank Lucas — has been making music together since 2019, blending pop, alt-R&B, hip-hop, folk, and all manner of tropical sounds. Their last LP, Mamá Flor, was named one of Rolling Stone’s Best Spanish-Language Albums of 2023, and they’re ready to release their third full project this year with the singles they’ve dropped so far (including collabs with PJ Sin Suela and L-Gante) being some of their best yet. Along with their prolific lo-fi collective Comida Para Llevar, the three are the face of Venezuela’s long-burgeoning alternative scene. —J.J.A.

Fresh off a string of theatrical festival performances and the colorful cinema verité of 2024’s Los Tres Golpes, Colombian rap baritone El Kalvo returns to cutting, analytical bars with a new album titled Tecnofeudalismo Criollo. Produced by Caleño studio whiz Car3sucio, the record tackles widening socio-economic gaps and political uncertainty, refracting his anxieties through the lens of new fatherhood. El Kalvo’s blend of humor and grit consolidated his powerhouse status in Colombia’s fabled rap scene, so his dismantling of dystopia will be a wonder to behold. —R.V.

Two years ago, FE7O was thrust into the spotlight when none other than Bad Bunny unexpectedly shared one of the tracks off the young artist’s debut album, OCIO, in his Instagram stories. That one was a chill-tastic Latin rap/jazz fusion that garnered him many fans. Last year, he dropped another LP, the R&B/indie-pop Cervezas y Tabacos, which showed off his talent at moodiness, solitude, and swag. Recently he’s come under the wing of Mr Sonic, Amazon Music’s Grammy winning producer-in-residence, and together they’re toiling on FE7O’s next big project. And since it’s important to know: it’s pronounced “Felo,” like “fellow.” —J.J.A.

Vanita Leo evokes the nostalgia of Bobby Pulido’s “Desvelado,” filtered through a 2026 lens that feels uniquely her own. It’s tejano-electro-cumbia realness with a touch of sweetness as she sings about “mamalonas” on “Caballito” and leans into a sonidito groove on “La Cumbia Wepa” that’ll get any hips moving. Her debut EP, Cumbiamente, produced by Alan Vega, captures her thriving across románticas and cumbias alike, with polished, forward-thinking production. Together, the artist-producer pairing is one worth keeping an eye on in musics mexicana. —T.M.

EMJAY is crazy — and she wants you to know it. The rising Mexican star embodies an underground energy that thrives on grimy Mexico City dance floors. She’s not bound by genre and proves her versatility on single songs.  On “No Me Veas Así,” her most recent, she jumps from near-rap verses to a rocky chorus to a pop-princess bridge. The hypnotic single follows her debut album, Me Estoy Volviendo Loca, where she fully leaned into the chaos in genre and technique. All EmJay needs is for you to listen. —T.M.

While maintaining a low profile and an air of mystery, Clarent has become one of Puerto Rico’s top artists. Following collaborations with Rauw Alejandro, Myke Towers, and Mora, the Caparra Terrace native is stepping into the spotlight with his debut EP No Vuelve a Suceder. While getting further co-signs from Omar Courtz and Morad, Clarent welcomes the world into his rockstar from the streets fantasy. —L.V.

Out of Buenos Aires’s prismatic electropop underground, singer and producer Matt Montero strikes the perfect balance of earworm gold and retro whimsy. A MySpace avatar that leapt off the screen and onto the dance floor, Montero favorites like “Musimundo” and “Excepcional” evoke the glory days of neon skinny jeans while grounded in timeless pop hooks. If you enjoy the overexposed Tumblr fashions of Kim Petras’s latest era, consider Montero’s forthcoming EP a South American analog serving crunchy electroclash and Fotolog whiplash. —R.V.

The two brothers who make up ZTVZ (pronounced “Estévez”) both studied astrophysics in college before pivoting to music, but one listen of their songs demonstrates they didn’t stray far from the cosmic. The duo has presented their space-y, indie electro rock sound at  New York Fashion Week and LAMC, and were even included (twice) in Bad Bunny’s Summertime Moods playlist for Apple Music. This year, they’re aiming to make their most ambitious push yet, betting that their project can break through even further and reach new starry heights. —J.J.A.

Kidd Voodoo has become the anointed dark prince of omnidirectional sounds, constantly diving from upbeat reggaeton to electro-pop to música mexicana. The Chilean upstart, who sold out seven consecutive shows at Chile’s Movistar Arena in 2025, reinforced his star power with the album Satirología Vol. 3, which debuted at no. 3 on Spotify’s global chart. So far, this is just the beginning. —J.L.

If fans of The Marías and Kali Uchis are looking for a new queen to stan, look no further than Sophie Castillo. The Colombian-Cuban singer is making her mark with an alt-pop sound that weaves in salsa, bachata, and even baile funk, most recently on her new single, “Como Animal.” Born in London, she has made it her mission to represent the Latino diaspora in the UK — and she’s clearly succeeding. —T.M.

Bogota is one of Latin America’s electronic music capitals, and the Latin-core scene’s irreverent collisions of techno, guaracha, and merengue have launched the globe-trotting careers of CRRDR and Aleroj. Next in line: 2AT, the jittery and prolific alias of Juan Tuaty, who’ll be dropping convulsive new records alongside producers Nixss and Genosidra, leaping from mutant carranga to Andean punk. Tuaty is also reforming his beloved post-punk band Babelgam, so keep an ear out for even more mind-bending tunes. —R.V.

Already a go-to songwriter and producer for regional Mexican powerhouses Fuerza Regida and Grupo Frontera, Armenta stepped into the spotlight as an artist with his debut album Pórtate Bien, cementing his triple-threat status in a crowded field of música mexicana. But Armenta stands out, and not just because of the arsenal of hits already under his belt as songwriter- producer. His first LP, packed with bold sounds, fusions and vivid storytelling, further elevates corridos and makes him one of the most exciting voices in Mexican music today.  —Griselda Flores

The heir to the Brat throne is 18 years old and hails from Argentina. But while roro is undoubtedly committed to crafting club classics, his 2025 EP, Hot Hits, enhanced saturated techno with ballroom, reggaeton, and brazen fashion name-drops. The rising singer and producer also popped up on records from Fiah and Kevin Abstract, while recent singles “18” and “CA$h IT OUT” tease a Spring/Summer collection of bangers laced with jerk and jersey club. –R.V.

After a breakthrough year complete with a COLORS session and a Rauw Alejandro feature, Planta Industrial, the Bronx-born post-punk super duo of rappers Saso and aka the darknight can only go down… into the pits of hell. Their debut EP Punk Wave Sin Barreras Volume 1: Conociéndonos dropped in late November, setting up a string of 2026 performances, including a much-anticipated Dominican homecoming at Isle of Light Festival, this March. Here’s hoping for more thrashing thrills on the horizon. —R.V.

The Argentine rebel, who started out as a graffiti artist, thrashed together electro-sludge and punk-minded liberation on 2024’s Heráldica, a wildly ambitious project that put her labyrinthine way of thinking front and center as she tied together everything from spirituality to rebirth to general internet brainrot. After signing with Interscope, she has a whole new chapter coming that promises to be even weirder and whimsier than what she’s already shown us. —J.L.

Sofia Insua first turned heads as the singer for Guatemalan shoegaze band Easy Easy, but solo swerves into hyperpop and R&B as aLex vs aLex propelled her to opening shows for Rusowsky and Ralphie Choo. Following her 2025 debut, nyc minute, she broke through with the reggaeton and vallenato melange of “centro aLt,” alongside Divino Niño’s lead singer Camilo Medina. Insua just popped up in the credits for Chet Faker’s forthcoming A Love For Strangers LP, hinting at a year of even greater come-ups. —R.V.

The Dominican-American singer María Isabel has shaped a steady fanbase with ultra-smooth, unabashedly vulnerable bedroom recordings that fuse pop, R&B, and soul over the last few years. After dropping her breakthrough EP i hope you’re very unhappy without me, she’s hinted there’s so much more on the horizon, hyping listeners up with releases like the bouncy “Bien Bien,” a track that stretches her sound and places her comfortably in a versatile, bilingual space. —J.L.

“Capaz” was proof enough of Alleh and Yorghaki’s star power: The beloved merengueton track from 2024 found its way up the charts and became a viral smash. That led flocks of people to discover their deeply heartfelt and insanely catchy LP LA CIUDAD, which has only led to more excitement around what the dynamic duo will do next. —J.L.

Every year, one of the most delightful highlights happens at the Latin Grammys, when a new star is born. This year, that distinction went to the dreamy singer-songwriter Paloma Morphy, who somehow captures the warmth of early aughts indie-pop with the boldness and carefreeness of the current era. Her album Au, released in March of last year, proved to the Latin Recording Academy what she can do — now the legion of fans who always believed in her are excited for more. —J.L.

De La Rose is already a magnetic force, often stealing the show on major collabs and punching up viral hits. Case in point? She added a dose of smoothness on Omar Courtz’s album, appearing on “NUBES” and the smash “Q U E V A S H A C E R H O Y ?.” Her excellent album FX De La Rose, which she dropped in November, was filled with wildly catchy hooks and fresh, unexpected production, giving her even more runway to take over this year. —J.L.

Andry Kiddos’ alternative pop is shaped by his experience as a Venezuelan exile. Since leaving his country, the hit-making songwriter has lived in Colombia, Spain, Mexico, and the U.S. His journey comes alive in “Asimilando,” a song that blends folk-pop with flamenco and has become an anthem for the displaced and anyone living in the diaspora. Now Kiddos is finding his footing as a star in his own right. His debut album will arrive later this year. —L.V.

The remarkable success of this Mexican street sweeper-turned-pop star was a highlight of 2025. Martínez — whose heartfelt story captivated everyone and vocal prowess showcased on “Sueña Lindo, Corazón” turned heads — could have been written off as a viral sensation but there’s a depth to his lyrics and a nostalgia to his prickly guitar that has us hooked. To keep the momentum going, the folk singer dropped his first album Si Mañana Ya No Estoy, performed a riveting NPR Tiny Desk Concert and wrapped the year with his first-ever U.S. tour, setting him up for a promising 2026. —G.F.

Taichu embodies punk baddie energy in everything she touches. The Argentine star effortlessly marries her brash rock aesthetic and hyperpop sensibilities with unexpected genres like bachata and baile funk in ways that feel unmistakably her own. HOTCORE, her December album, uses autotune and synths as key instruments and is packed with earworms. With HOTCORE as the foundation, 2026 is poised to be her year. —T.M.

With a velvet voice and enough charisma to charm even the toughest listener, the rising singer has vaulted out of Colombia’s Cartagena region, making a name for himself as “the AfroRockStar” — also the eponymous title of his debut album from August. Afte massive collabs with Ryan Castro, Mau y Ricky, and De La Ghetto and Farruko, he’s poised to keep his momentum going. Viral hits like “Mi Reina” and a standout On the Radar performance prove as much as he keeps things going with new EPs expected this year. —J.L.

Humbe is proving his star power is bigger than the machine. After parting ways with his label in 2024, the Latin pop it boy soared to new heights with his Dueño Del Cielo album, which he released independently last month. Now Humbe fever is spreading north of Mexico with his first US tour this year that’s quickly selling out. —L.V.