The 2026 Latin Grammy nominations have officially landed, celebrating another blockbuster year for music across Latin America and beyond. Before the awards are handed out on November 12, here's how to turn a weekend into a competitive discovery game.
Step 1: Assemble Your Playlist and Players
First, the basics. You can play this solo, but it's better with a small group of friends who appreciate good music (or a healthy debate). The core of the game is a master playlist. Pull all the nominated tracks from the 'Big Four' categories: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. You can find the full list of nominees on the Latin Grammy website. Create a collaborative playlist on your streaming service of choice and have everyone listen through it at least once before you gather. The goal isn't just to pick winners; it's to discover your new favorite song.
Step 2: Draft the 'Big Four' Contenders
Think of this as a fantasy football draft, but for musical greatness. Once everyone has listened to the playlist, get together and hold a draft for the four biggest awards. Each person takes a turn picking who they think will win Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best New Artist. No two people can pick the same artist or song for the same category. This year’s top categories are stacked, with artists like Karol G, Rosalía, Jorge Drexler, and CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso each picking up seven nominations. This makes drafting your picks a real challenge. For each correct prediction on awards night, you get 10 points.
Step 3: Dive Deep with the Genre Gauntlet
This is where the true music nerds shine. After the big categories are drafted, move on to the genre awards. Assign a few key genres for everyone to predict, like Best Música Urbana Album, Best Pop/Rock Album, Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album, and Best Tropical Song. You can either draft these or just have everyone write down their predictions. Award five points for every correct guess in these categories. This part of the game encourages everyone to listen beyond the mainstream hits and explore the incredible diversity within Latin music, from the rock stylings of Fito Paez to the urban fusions of Rauw Alejandro.
Step 4: Create Your Own 'Wildcard' Awards
The official awards are fun, but your group's opinion matters, too. Before you wrap up your listening session, create three to five 'wildcard' categories to vote on yourselves. These have nothing to do with the official results and are purely for fun. Ideas include: 'Best Song for a Road Trip,' 'Most Likely to Become a TikTok Dance,' 'Best Heartbreak Anthem,' or 'The 'I Can't Believe This Didn't Get a Nomination' Award.' Have everyone cast their votes. There are no points here—just the sweet satisfaction of communal taste-making and passionate arguments over which track truly has the best vibe.
Step 5: Tally the Scores on Awards Night
On Thursday, November 12, tune into the 27th Annual Latin Grammy Awards, broadcast live from Las Vegas. As the winners are announced, tally up your points. Ten points for each correct 'Big Four' pick and five points for each correct genre pick. The person with the highest score wins. What's the prize? Ultimate bragging rights as the person with the best ear in your friend group. The winner can also be tasked with creating the playlist for your next get-together, ensuring their victory lap is soundtracked by certified bangers. It's a lowstaked competition where the real prize is the music itself.
