Aria Vega nabbed the coveted best new artist award at the 2026 Latin Grammy Awards on Thursday (Nov. 11) in Las Vegas, where she was up against rising acts Macario Martinez, Delilah, and Fabian, to name a few.
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“Thank you, God; thank you to my family, my mom, my friends, my work team—who have given their all—and my crew, who are my driving force,” the Barranquilla-born singer said in her speech with teary eyes.
She continued: “I’ve been reflecting on where I am in my life, and I remembered a university professor who once gave us an assignment to create something that described us. I made a collage that included the phrases ‘big dreams and good taste’—and being here, receiving this recognition, is one of those ‘premium’ dreams.”
It’s “truly special that my colleagues—the very people presenting me with this award—are the ones doing so,” she added. “They possess such incredible taste and discernment when it comes to music, because they love this craft and are truly dedicated to it. Returning to the subject of dreams: I am a woman from Barranquilla, Colombia. The Caribbean coast is full of talent, yet it lacks a formal music industry—so, the fact that I am standing here holding this gramophone proves that dreams know no geography. Dreams know no fear. Thank you to the Colombian Caribbean coast, thank you to Barranquilla, and thank you to Colombia.”
Backstage at the media center, the Billboard Latin Up and Comer of July burst into tears as she remembered her hometown. “When I go back to Barranquilla, my pencil and my voice magically readjust—that is my lifelong dream,” she shared. “It’s all worth it… when things like this materialize, we realize that dreams have no ceiling.”
Vega also revealed that for more than a year she’s been working on her debut studio album.
“My most honest version is on the way in ‘Costeñita Core’—that will be the language of the album. It was incredibly difficult to whittle the tracks down to just 15, and I can’t wait for it to be out there.”
