History was made at the 2026 Grammy Awards when Bad Bunny took home Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos, marking the first time a Spanish-language album has ever won the Recording Academy’s top honor.
Presented by Harry Styles, the moment closed out a night filled with political statements, first-time winners, and cultural milestones. Bad Bunny beat out a stacked field — and rewrote Grammy history in the process.
Accepting the award in Spanish, the Puerto Rican superstar delivered an emotional message rooted in pride, resilience, and diaspora:
“Puerto Rico, believe me when I tell you that we are much bigger than 100 by 35. And there is nothing we can’t achieve.”
He went on to thank his team and his mother for giving birth to him in Puerto Rico, before switching to English to dedicate the win:
“I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland to follow their dreams.”
From Nominee to History-Maker
The win felt full-circle. In 2023, Bad Bunny was nominated for Album of the Year with Un Verano Sin Ti — the first Spanish-language album ever nominated — but lost to Styles’ Harry’s House. Three years later, he returned and finished the job.
Earlier in the night, Bad Bunny also won Best Música Urbana Album, where he used his stage time to speak out against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying:
“We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.”
A Grammys Night Shaped by Culture & Protest
Immigration and identity were central themes throughout the ceremony. Billie Eilish used her Song of the Year speech to declare, “No one is illegal on stolen land,” while Kehlani ended their first Grammy acceptance speech with “f*ck ICE.”
Musically, the night belonged to heavyweights. Kendrick Lamar and SZA won Record of the Year for “Luther,” while Lamar also picked up Best Rap Album for GNX, becoming the most-awarded rapper in Grammy history.
Still, the defining headline remained Bad Bunny’s. His win wasn’t just personal — it was cultural. A global acknowledgment that Spanish-language music doesn’t need translation to be understood at the highest level.
