2023 Latin Grammys Move To Sevilla Highlights Global Impact Of Latin Music

The 2023 Latin Grammys is breaking from tradition. The awards show is leaving the U.S. for the first time since its inception in 2000. The Latin Recording Academy announced today it will hold its first-ever international Latin Grammy Awards in Sevilla, Spain.

“We are confident that it will be a memorable celebration,” said the organization’s CEO, Manuel Abud.

The Junta de Andalucía will sponsor this year’s Latin Grammys as part of a new three-year partnership that includes several other musical events in Andalucía in 2024 and 2025, aimed at helping boost tourism in the region, known as the birthplace of flamenco music.

The 24th Annual Latin Grammy Awards telecast will be produced by TelevisaUnivision in collaboration with Radio Televisión Española (RTVE) and held in Sevilla’s Conference and Exhibition Centre (FIBES) on Thursday, November 16.

Leading up to the awards telecast, there will be a week-long celebration in Sevilla consisting of events such as the Person of the Year Gala, the Leading Ladies of Entertainment luncheon, and the Best New Artist showcase.

The awards, which celebrate Latin music and its creators, have evolved in recent years to reflect the global reach of Latin music. In March, the Latin Recording Academy announced it would introduce several new categories to this year’s awards, including Best Portuguese-Language Urban Performance, recognizing music from Brazil and Portugal.

With the move to Spain, the organization is doubling down on expanding its reach internationally, capitalizing on the popularity and success of Latin music, with global stars like Bad Bunny to Karol G topping charts and breaking records, whose music has gone mainstream. In fact, in 2022, Latin music revenue exceeded $1 billion for the first time ever, according to a report by Recording Industry Association of America.

Doing the awards show in Spain is going to have some logistical challenges for TelevisaUnivision not just in cost, but also the big time difference for its U.S. viewers. Sevilla is nine hours ahead of Los Angeles and six ahead of Miami. The ceremony will be time delayed and shown at 8 p.m. local U.S. time.

“This is an extraordinary moment for Latin music globally and we are confident that this partnership with RTVE, and the passion and energy that Univision brings to the show, will make history and deliver an unforgettable experience for audiences who love and enjoy music all around the world,” said Ignacio Meyer, President of U.S. Networks at TelevisaUnivision.

Abud confirmed the show will return to the U.S. for its 25th anniversary next year, and said the show may hit the road again to an international location, perhaps in Latin America in 2025. Nominees for this year’s Latin GRAMMY Awards will be announced on Tuesday, September 19.