J Balvin, Feid, and LL Cool J Lead Star-Studded Tribute to Daddy Yankee at Person of the Year Gala

Daddy Yankee was honored as the Latin Recording Academy’s 2026 Person of the Year on Wednesday night in Las Vegas, where a star-studded lineup featuring J Balvin, Feid, Nathy Peluso, LL Cool J, The Sugarhill Gang, and dozens of other artists came together to celebrate the reggaeton pioneer’s career and influence.

The tribute spanned nearly three decades of music, bringing together the artists who helped build reggaeton, the stars who carried it into the mainstream, and musicians from entirely different genres whose work influenced Daddy Yankee along the way.  Just one day earlier, he was announced as part of the Coachella 2027 lineup, where he will make his festival debut with a specially billed “In the Desert” performance alongside a diverse group of Latin artists.

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Among the night’s highlights, Feid joined Tito El Bambino, Jowell & Randy, and Argentine rapper Trueno for a rendition of “Gasolina,” while J Balvin performed “Tu Príncipe.” Nathy Peluso teamed up with salsa legend Oscar D’León for “Despacito,” with Tito Nieves joining them toward the end. Meanwhile, Ryan Castro, J Noa, and Feid performed “Rompe,” before joining Paulo Londra and Trueno for “Somos de Calle.”

The celebration extended well beyond reggaeton. Hip-hop pioneers The Sugarhill Gang performed their classic “Rapper’s Delight,” while Sheila E. and Dante Spinetta combined “The Glamorous Life” with Daddy Yankee’s “Pasarela.” Jorge Drexler opened the evening with “Ante La Duda, Baila,” and Brazilian singer Luísa Sonza joined Reik for “Ella Me Levantó.” Other performers included Farruko, Rawayana, Kapo, Pablo Alborán, Natalia Jiménez, Gente de Zona, and Pedro Capó, among others.

Daddy Yankee eventually took the stage himself to perform “Sonríele,” “Lo Que Pasó, Pasó,” and “BOTZ (Bésame Otra Vez),” the lead single from his recently released album, LA POSTAL. J Balvin and LL Cool J then presented him with the Person of the Year award, recognizing his contributions to Latin music and his humanitarian work.

“Never in my life have I felt an emotion as powerful as the one I felt today,” Daddy Yankee said during his acceptance speech, according to Billboard. Reflecting on the tribute, he added that hearing other artists perform his songs reminded him that the music belonged to his audience as much as to him.

Check out some of the most notable performances from the ceremony below.