The Latin Grammy Awards are awarded in a series of categories, each of which isolate a specific contribution to Latin music. The standard awards list nominees in each category from which a winner is selected. These categories have been added and removed over time.
Special awards There are special awards which are awarded without nominations, typically for achievements of longer than the past year, which the standard awards apply to:
Person of the Year is a Special Merit Award presented to an individual who has had a significant effect on Latin music and has taken part in extensive philanthropy. Lifetime Achievement Award: is a Special Merit Award presented to performers who have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording during their careers. Trustees Awards: is a Special Merit Award presented to individuals who have made significant contributions, other than performance, to the field of recording during their careers. Hall of Fame Award honors recordings that are at least twenty-five years old that have made significant contributions Leading Ladies of Entertainment honors women in the Latin entertainment industry.
General Field The General Field consists of four standard awards representing the best over-all achievements in performance, production, and songwriting in Spanish and Portuguese languages: Record of the Year is awarded to the performer and the production team of a single song. Album of the Year is awarded to the performer and the production team of a full album. Song of the Year is awarded to the writer(s)/composer(s) of a single song. Best New Artist is awarded to an artist without reference to a song or album.
Genre-specific fields Pop Best Contemporary Pop Album Best Traditional Pop Album Best Pop Song
Electronic Best Electronic Music Performance
Urban Best Urban Performance Best Reggaeton Performance Best Urban Music Album Best Rap/Hip Hop Song Best Urban Song
Rock Best Rock Album Best Rock Song Best Pop/Rock Album Best Pop/Rock Song
Alternative Best Alternative Music Album Best Alternative Song
Tropical Best Salsa Album Best Cumbia/Vallenato Album Best Merengue/Bachata Album Best Contemporary Tropical Album Best Traditional Tropical Album Best Tropical Song
Singer-Songwriter Best Singer-Songwriter Album Best Singer-Songwriter Song
Regional Mexican Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album Best Banda Album Best Tejano Album Best Norteño Album Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album Best Regional Mexican Song
Instrumental Best Instrumental Album
Traditional Best Folk Album Best Tango Album Best Flamenco Album Best Roots Song
Jazz Best Latin Jazz/Jazz Album
Christian Best Christian Album (Spanish Language) Best Christian Album (Portuguese Language)
Portuguese Language Best Portuguese Language Contemporary Pop Album Best Portuguese Language Rock or Alternative Album Best Portuguese Language Urban Performance Best Samba/Pagode Album Best MPB Album Best Sertaneja Music Album Best Portuguese Language Roots Album Best Portuguese Language Song
Note: The field was originally called "Brazilian" before it was changed to "Portuguese Language" in 2016.
Children's Best Latin Children’s Album
Classical Best Classical Album Best Classical Contemporary Composition
Visual Media Best Music for Visual Media
Arrangement Best Arrangement
Recording Package Best Recording Package
Songwriter Songwriter of the Year
Production Best Engineered Album Producer of the Year
Music video Best Short Form Music Video Best Long Form Music Video
No longer awarded Pop Best Female Pop Vocal Album Best Male Pop Vocal Album Best Pop Album by a Duo or Group with Vocals Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album
Rock Best Rock Solo Vocal Album Best Rock Vocal Album, Duo or Group
Tropical Best Tropical Fusion Album
Regional Mexican Best Grupero Album
Portuguese Language Best Romantic Music Album
References The Latin GRAMMY Award Categories The Latin GRAMMY Award Category Guidelines The Latin GRAMMY Special Awards