The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) celebrated its 2026 Latin Music Awards during an exclusive ceremony held on Tuesday, May 5, in Miami. The prestigious event recognized outstanding talent and achievements across various categories within Latin music, honoring a diverse range of artists, songwriters, and publishers.

For the third time in his career, Colombian hitmaker Keityn was distinguished as the Songwriter of the Year. This accolade was awarded for his significant contributions to several chart-topping songs, including Karol G and Marco Antonio Solís’ “Coleccionando Heridas,” Maluma’s “Cosas Pendientes,” Feid’s “Doblexxó,” and Nicky Jam and Beéle’s “Hiekka,” showcasing his consistent influence in the Latin music scene.

The title of ASCAP Latin Songwriter-Artist of the Year was bestowed upon the New York Dominican superstar Romeo Santos, widely known as the King of Bachata. Santos earned this recognition for his recent successful tracks such as “Ángel,” which featured Grupo Frontera, “Desde Hoy,” performed by Natti Natasha, and “Khé,” a collaboration with Rauw Alejandro, solidifying his status as a leading figure in the genre.

The coveted 2026 ASCAP Latin Song of the Year award went to “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido.” This popular tune, performed by Karol G and penned by ASCAP songwriter Rios, was released last June. Published by Capital Music Puerto Rico LLC and Kobalt Music Publishing, the track made a significant impact, dominating Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart at No. 1 for 14 weeks and experiencing a resurgence to No. 6 following Karol G’s headlining performance at Coachella.

Reggaetón legend Daddy Yankee further cemented his legacy as the most decorated Latin ASCAP songwriter in history, adding his 63rd and 64th awards to his extensive collection. These latest honors were for the uplifting anthem “Sonríele” and the sultry track “Latina Foreva,” also performed by Karol G. Daddy Yankee has been a consistent presence at every ASCAP Latin Awards ceremony since 2005, a testament to his enduring impact.

On the industry side, Universal Music Publishing Group achieved a significant milestone, being recognized as the Latin Music Publisher of the Year for the fourth consecutive year. This achievement underscores their representation of numerous recent hits by prominent artists such as Bad Bunny, Rauw Alejandro, and many others.

Additional ASCAP Latin honorees included Julito Gastón, who received his first recognition for co-writing Bad Bunny’s global hit “Baile Inolvidable” alongside Antonio Caraballo. Other notable winners acknowledged during the ceremony for their contributions to various successful songs included Feid (for “Doblexxó,” “Háblame Claro,” “Verano Rosa”), Xavi (for “En Privado,” “Flores”), Natanael Cano (for “PRESIDENTE”), Tito El Bambino (for “EoO”), and Danny Ocean (for “Imagínate”), among others. A comprehensive list of all ASCAP Latin music winners is available on the official ASCAP website.