Daddy Yankee Named Latin Grammys 2026 Person of the Year

Latin music legend Daddy Yankee has officially been named the Latin Grammys 2026 Person of the Year. The Latin Recording Academy announced the news on Tuesday morning.

“This recognition from The Latin Recording Academy is a dream come true. It means a lot because it represents more than just a successful career; it’s recognition of years of discipline, struggle, faith and commitment to our culture,” Daddy Yankee said in a statement. “Receiving something like this is to honor Puerto Rico, to honor all Latinos, and specifically to that entire generation that believed in our music when no one else understood it.”

The Puerto Rican musician, born Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez, is being celebrated for pioneering reggaeton music and its global takeover, setting the stage for the next generation of artists like Bad Bunny and Karol G. Over the past few decades, Daddy Yankee has become one of the best-selling Latin musicians of all time with smash hits like 2004’s “Gasolina” and 2017’s “Despacito.” He is also a decorated artist with seven Latin Grammy wins under his belt.

“Daddy Yankee has been a defining force in the global rise of Latin music,” CEO of the Latin Recording Academy Manuel Abud said in a statement. “His leadership, discipline and vision opened the doors for a genre and inspired an entire generation of creators, and he remains as relevant today as ever. We are proud to honor him as our 2026 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year.”

In the years since his Number One hits and culture-defining moments, Daddy Yankee has taken a step back from music. 2022’s Legendaddy was said to be his last album, but last year he followed it up with faith-based songs on Lamento En Baile. Though his mission has shifted, the Puerto Rican star’s power remains. “Sonríele” off the latest LP reahced Number one on Billboard’s Latin Airplay.

Beyond music, Daddy Yanke has set his sights on giving back to his Puerto Rican community. The musician has invested in the island’s baseball team Cangrejeros de Santurce and in the NBA Basketball School in P.R., an educational program for those interested in the sport.

Every year, the Latin Recording Academy names a Person of the Year who “honors musicians and their artistic achievements in the Latin music industry, as well as their humanitarian efforts,” according to a press release. Last year, Spanish crooner Raphael was honored as the Latin Record Academy’s Person of the Year. During the 2026 Latin Grammy Week in November, Daddy Yankee will be celebrated at a private gala where artists will perform renditions of his own songs.

“It’s always been something that’s come naturally to me: trying to be the tip of the spear, trying to do things differently, trying to leave a mark, a footprint,” Daddy Yankee said in an interview with Rolling Stone earlier this year. “Something that transcends beyond the music.”