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Pepe Aguilar, a Mexican artist who can traverse many genres – from traditional ranchera to progressive pop — went for tradition in his 2025 Latin Grammys performance. Singing with the backing of a 16-piece mariachi, Aguilar belted “El Cihualteco” and “El Fuereño,” from his album Mi Suerte Es Ser Mexicano, nominated for best ranchero/mariachi album.

Aguilar often sings ballads, and his velvety voice lends itself to crooning. But his other forceful, powerful side, put at the service of bravura songs, is perhaps more impressive. Dressed in full charro regalia, he also brought in folk Mexican dancers, which added authenticity to a spectacle of Mexican pride. Mariachi music has not enjoyed the commercial success of other Mexican music genres, like norteño or banda, to the degree that this year there were only three nominees competing in the best ranchero/mariachi album, a reflection on the number of submissions.

But Aguilar more than made up for it. This is a man that is constantly on the road performing live, and it showed in his dominion of the stage and his clear ease singing to a live mariachi.

In a twist, Aguilar was competing in the best ranchero/mariachi album category with his son-in-law Christian Nodal. And when it came time to announce the winners, it was Nodal who took the prize. Nodal hugged his wife Angela Aguilar and, before taking the stage, also embraced his father-in-law in a gesture of respect.

Other Latin Grammy performers for the evening have included standouts Rauw Alejandro, Elena Rose and Gloria Estefan performing alongside Nathy Peluso.

Rauw Alejandro proved why he remains one of Latin music’s most dynamic performers on Thursday (Nov. 13) night at the 26th annual Latin Grammy Awards. Taking the stage with his smooth vocals and jaw-dropping choreography, the Puerto RIcan superstar delivered a medley that showcased his ability to effortlessly transition between genres, from tropical and bachata to pop and salsa.

He opened with “Khé?,” set against visuals inspired by Puerto Rico’s rich culture, including striking Afro-Caribbean dance masks and nods to Old San Juan’s colorful streets. This artistic homage turned his performance into a tribute to the deep-rooted traditions and history of his island, anchored by Rauw’s contemporary flair and magnetic stage presence.

Wearing a lilac silk outfit reminiscent of matador fashion — with early MJ influences in its statement-making design — Rauw brought his signature fluidity to “Silencio,” heating things up with a bachata-infused sequence. Joined by a partner in a shimmering gold dress, the performance paired steamy romantic vibes with choreography that felt intimate yet captivating. He also performed salsa banger “Falsedad” and the Afrobeats-laden hit “Carita Linda.”

The 26th annual Latin Grammy Awards can be seen on Univision, UNIMÁS, and ViX. The ceremony is set to feature performances from Carlos Santana, Christian Nodal, DannyLux, Aitana, Alejandro Sanz, and more.

Bad Bunny leads the nominations this year, topping the list with 12 nods, including album of the year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos and double mentions in the record of the year and song of the year categories for “Baile Inolvidable” and “DTMF.” Hot on his heels are Mexican-American producer-songwriter Edgar Barrera and Argentine duo CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso, each earning 10 nominations.

This year’s ceremony boasts 60 categories honoring the very best in Latin music. Fans can follow along with all the night’s winners as the list updates live — click here to see who takes home a trophy.

Check out more Latin Grammy coverage, including performance highlights, special award moments, and exclusive behind-the-scenes action on Billboard.com.