Premios Juventud 2026: 10 Best Performances, Ranked

Premios Juventud made its European debut Thursday night (Sept. 3), bringing the youth-focused Latin music awards to the Starlite Auditorium in Marbella, Spain. The 23rd edition marked the first time the show had been staged outside the Americas, turning the Costa del Sol into a meeting point for Latin music’s biggest names and Spanish pop’s homegrown stars.

Under the theme “Conéctate al Vibe,” the ceremony capped the inaugural PJ Fest, a weeklong TelevisaUnivision initiative that stretched from Miami to Houston, Los Angeles and Marbella. The night also honored Antonio Banderas, Marc Anthony, Yandel and La Oreja de Van Gogh as Agents of Change, while early winners included Shakira and Burna Boy, whose World Cup song “Dai Dai” won OMG Collaboration, and Carín León and Alejandro Fernández, who won My Favorite Track for “Me Está Doliendo.”

But the historic setting was only part of the story. The stage delivered cross-generational, cross-Atlantic linkups at every turn: Farruko, Juan Magán and DJ Rous kicked off the festivities with “Marbella Nights,” the event’s new anthem, before Greeicy joined Farru onstage for their Latin Airplay No. 1 EDM collab “Yapaque,” also featuring Steve Aoki. Quevedo then celebrated his Canary Islands roots with Elvis Crespo and Las Cuatro during a medley of “Columbia,” “Al Golpito” and “La Graciosa.”

Elsewhere, a stacked roster including Ángela Aguilar, Camilo, Christian Nodal, Eladio Carrión, Elena Rose, Marc Anthony, Morat, Natanael Cano, Wisin, Xavi and Yandel showcased the breadth of Latin music on one international stage. Check out the full winner’s list here.

From reggaetón reimagined with orchestral flourish to nostalgia-fueled Spanish pop and arena-ready salsa, these were the five performances that made Premios Juventud’s first trip to Europe count.

• Natanael Cano Brings Corridos Tumbados’ Wild Side

  

  Natanael Cano brought the beautiful mess. With a beer in hand, his shirt unbuttoned and sweat already setting in, the corridos tumbados pioneer took the stage for “Mar Azul,” off Natanael Cano Vol. 1, flanked by a tuba, two requintos and a steel-string guitar. Cano appeared a little unsteady but wholly unbothered, leaning into the raw, debauched energy that has long made him one of música Mexicana’s most disruptive figures. It was loose, loud and gloriously imperfect.

• Kenia OS & Xavi Premiere Their Sultry ‘Malas Mañas’

  

  Kenia OS and Xavi brought one of the night’s most anticipated collaborations to the stage with the live premiere of “Malas Mañas.” Blending corridos’ melodic pull with bachata-inflected rhythm, the pair delivered a sleek, flirtatious performance that played to their contrasting star power: Kenia in daring red sheer bottoms and Chanel pasties, while Xavi rocked a leather vest and dark sunglasses. The performance gave their new song a memorable first look. While it seemed like it was lip synced, it was still super cute.

• Farruko, Greeicy & More Open PJ With a Genre-Bending Marbella Moment

  

  Farruko and friends set the tone as the night’s opening acts, flexing the genre-hopping versatility that has defined his career. He began alongside Juan Magán and DJ Rous with “Marbella Nights,” the event’s new anthem, blending dancehall flourishes with a high-energy, Spain-meets-Latin America party atmosphere. Without leaving the stage, Farru shifted gears as Greeicy joined him for their Latin Airplay No. 1, EDM-driven collaboration “Yapaque,” featuring Steve Aoki — a fitting launchpad for Premios Juventud’s first European edition.

• Ángela Aguilar Brings México’s Mariachi Spirit to Spain

  Ángela Aguilar delivered one of the night’s most elegant performances with a stirring rendition of the Mexican standard “Cielito Lindo.” Dressed in a traditional gown with braids, the singer was backed by a sweeping orchestra as she led the crowd through its beloved “Ay, ay, ay, ay, canta y no llores” refrain. She capped the tribute with a triumphant cry of “¡Que viva México!” — bringing a touch of mariachi grandeur to the award ceremony’s first night in Spain.

• Eladio Carrión Gives ‘Maniac’ a Club-Ready Latin Makeover

  

  Eladio Carrión put his own stamp on “Polaroid,” from his CORSA album, which reworks Michael Sembello’s 1983 pop classic “Maniac” for a new generation. With rap verses, a muscular beat and a gigantic Polaroid backdrop, the Puerto Rican star transformed the familiar hook into a club-ready urbano banger. A dancer evoking Flashdance’s iconic visual brought a touch of theatrics before the set pivoted into “Body,” where neon-clad dancers in leotards, thick socks and sneakers filled the stage, turning the performance into a colorful retro-workout fantasy.

• Wisin and Kapo Bring Reggaetón Fire Across the Atlantic

  

  Reggaetón pioneer Wisin turned Premios Juventud into a full-on perreo party, opening with the classic “Saoco” — not Rosalía’s later hit — before rolling through “Paleta” and “Gistro Amarillo.” The Puerto Rican star brought his veteran command and kinetic delivery to the stage, then welcomed Kapo for the televised world premiere of “Muévelo Pa’ Mí.” Their high-energy linkup made a strong case for reggaetón’s enduring, cross-generational pull, amid pyrotechnic effects.

• Santos Bravos Deliver a Boy-Band Master Class

  

  Santos Bravos arrived in crisp white, commanding the stage with the polished choreography, pop-star presence and club-ready sound that explain their immediate appeal. Moving between Portuguese-tinged hooks and a moodier section framed by a looming shadow backdrop, the heartthrob quintet kept every beat tight before a rush of dancers filled the stage and confetti exploded overhead. The performance felt like a K-pop-scale production made for Latin pop’s next boy band.

• Quevedo, Elvis Crespo & Las Cuatro Turn Canarias Into the Main Stage

  

  Quevedo made his Premios Juventud debut feel rooted in home. With a giant projection of the Canary Islands behind him, the Spanish star opened with “Columbia” before moving into “Al golpito” alongside Las Cuatro — the re-formed Nueva Línea — as the crowd sang along. Then Elvis Crespo emerged for their first live performance of “La Graciosa,” the summer-ready collaboration that bridges Quevedo’s island-bred urbano sound with Crespo’s Caribbean pop pedigree. “¡En la graciosa la vida es mas sabrosa!“, the “Suavemente” hitmaker shouted. It was a distinctly Canarian celebration with the kind of multigenerational crossover PJ does best.

• Marc Anthony Delivers Salsa Superstar Power

  

  Honored as an Agent of Change, Marc Anthony brought the kind of seasoned star power only a salsa icon can summon. The singer ran through a hit-filled medley of “Aguanile,” “Valió La Pena,” “Pa’ Ya Voy” and “Vivir Mi Vida,” with the crowd rising to its feet for the enduring final anthem. More than a decade after its release, “Vivir Mi Vida” still landed like a communal call to celebrate — a fitting finale from an artist whose songs continue to unite generations.

• La Oreja de Van Gogh Makes ‘Rosas’ Bloom

  

  Over thirty years into their career, La Oreja de Van Gogh delivered a homecoming-worthy highlight with their timeless anthem “Rosas.” Honored as an Agent of Change, the Spanish band took the stage as dozens of pink roses bloomed across the screen behind them, while the audience sang every word and swayed along. In a pink look accented by an oversized rose, appropriately, Amaia Montero led the emotional singalong with a warm, unmistakably live vocal — proving why “Rosas” remains one of Spanish pop’s most enduring hits.