The road to the Latin Grammys doesn't always begin in a recording studio. Sometimes, it starts on the streets of Mexico City, in a household filled with legendary musicians, or thousands of miles from the country an artist calls home.

As the 27th Annual Latin Grammy Awards take place on November 12, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the spotlight is turning toward some of Latin music's most exciting emerging talents.

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This year's Best New Artist category features 11 nominees representing different countries, musical traditions, and personal experiences. While some have famous last names, others spent years building their careers without industry connections or mainstream recognition. 

Behind the nominations are stories of perseverance, family legacies, unexpected opportunities, and artists determined to find their own voices.

Here are seven Latin Grammy 2026 nominees whose lives deserve a closer look.

Macario Martínez: From Cleaning Streets to a Latin Grammy Nomination

Perhaps no story among the 2026 Best New Artist nominees is quite as unexpected as that of Mexican singer-songwriter Macario Martínez. In early 2025, Martínez was working as a street sweeper in Mexico City while pursuing his dream of becoming a professional musician.

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His daily routine involved cleaning the city's streets, but music remained a priority. He had spent years writing songs, performing in small venues, and developing a sound influenced by Mexican folk traditions and alternative music.

Everything changed when he posted a TikTok video featuring his original song "Sueña Lindo, Corazón." The footage showed him during his workday, offering viewers a glimpse into the life of an aspiring musician who was trying to make ends meet.

The response was extraordinary. The video attracted millions of views, introducing his music to an audience far beyond Mexico City. According to the Los Angeles Times, Martínez's rise led to performances, industry attention, and opportunities that had once seemed out of reach. 

His journey became even more meaningful when he invited former coworkers to sit in the front row at one of his first performances after going viral. Now, his 2026 Latin Grammy nomination represents another milestone in a career that began with determination rather than privilege.

Loulu Gilberto: Growing Up as the Daughter of a Bossa Nova Legend

For Brazilian singer Loulu Gilberto, music has always been part of her family history. She is the youngest daughter of João Gilberto, one of the most influential figures in Brazilian music and a pioneer of bossa nova.

Growing up with that musical heritage might sound like a dream, but it also creates an unusual challenge: how does an emerging artist establish an identity when her father helped define an entire genre?

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Loulu has approached that question through her own interpretation of Brazilian musical traditions. Her self-titled debut album, released in May 2026, revisits sounds connected to her childhood and her father's artistic world, incorporating bossa nova, samba, jazz, and Brazilian popular music.

Her Best New Artist nomination introduces her to a wider audience while drawing attention to the continuation of one of Brazil's most recognizable musical legacies. 

What makes her story interesting isn't simply her famous last name. It's the balance between honoring a remarkable family history and building a career that belongs to her.

Zeca Veloso: Following a Brazilian Music Icon's Footsteps

Another nominee carrying a celebrated musical surname is Zeca Veloso, the son of Brazilian singer-songwriter Caetano Veloso.

Caetano is one of the central figures of Tropicália, the Brazilian cultural movement that transformed popular music by bringing together traditional sounds, rock, and experimental influences.

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For Zeca, entering the music industry means stepping into a world where his father's work has already left an enormous cultural mark. His nomination in the Best New Artist category offers an opportunity to introduce his own artistry to listeners who may know the Veloso name primarily through Caetano.

The father-son connection also highlights an interesting theme among this year's nominees: the different ways musical traditions pass between generations.

Some emerging artists inherit a musical environment from childhood, while others discover their artistic ambitions entirely on their own. 

Sofia Monroy: Losing Her Father and Finding Her Identity Between Two Countries

For Sofia Monroy, growing up between cultures has shaped both her personal life and her music. Born in Mexico City and raised in Sweden, the singer-songwriter experienced a childhood influenced by two different cultures, languages, and expectations.

But her story also includes a deeply personal loss. In a November 2026 interview with Spanish news agency EFE, Monroy revealed that her father died when she was just 11 years old. Her mother then worked to support and raise four children.

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That experience influenced Monroy's understanding of gender roles and independence, themes she explores in her album WO[E]MAN.

After growing up in Luleå, Sweden, she eventually moved back to Mexico to reconnect with her roots and pursue her artistic ambitions.

Her music explores identity, belonging, and the complexities of being a woman while navigating different cultural expectations.

FABIAN: The Son of a Latin Music Star Finding His Own Voice

Peruvian singer-songwriter FABIAN knows what it means to grow up surrounded by music.

His father is Gian Marco, the celebrated Peruvian singer-songwriter and Latin Grammy winner. His sister, Nicole Zignago, has also established a career as a recording artist.

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With two recognizable names in his immediate family, FABIAN has a unique perspective on entering the music industry. However, his artistic interests extend beyond continuing the family tradition.

His 2025 debut album, Niño Bueno, explores relationships, growing up, and the emotional uncertainty that comes with navigating adulthood.

His Best New Artist nomination represents a significant step toward establishing his own place in Latin pop.

Delilah: From a Small Washington Town to Regional Mexican Music

Delilah represents a different kind of musical journey. The Mexican-American singer-songwriter comes from Wenatchee, Washington, a place not typically associated with the biggest names in regional Mexican music.

Her musical foundation developed through mariachi, connecting her American upbringing with Mexican musical traditions. She later became the first female artist signed to Natanael Cano's Los CT label through its partnership with Interscope.

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Her career has also included a collaboration with Becky G and songs such as "Amor Perdido," "Entre la Maleza," and "Butterfly."

Her nomination is another example of how Latin music's next generation is emerging from communities far beyond the traditional centers of the recording industry. 

maye: The Venezuelan Singer Who Found Her Sound in Miami

For Venezuelan-born singer-songwriter maye, the journey toward a Latin Grammy nomination has involved years of artistic development.

Raised in Miami, maye grew up surrounded by a multicultural environment that helped shape her musical perspective.

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Her work combines intimate songwriting with alternative pop influences, creating a sound that moves between Latin music traditions and contemporary indie production.

Her debut album, Música Para Abrir el Cielo, arrived in 2025 and includes "Lento," a collaboration with Venezuelan band Rawayana.

Unlike artists whose careers are defined by a single viral moment, maye spent years developing her music before receiving her 2026 Best New Artist nomination. Now based in Los Angeles, she represents a generation of Latin artists whose work crosses geographic and genre boundaries.