Gonzalo Rubalcaba earns two Latin Grammy nominations for 2026

Foto: Wikimedia Commons / MIFF (cropped)

September 21, 2026

Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba is among the nominees for the 27th Annual Latin Grammy Awards with two bids, according to the official list released September 16, 2026 by the Latin Recording Academy. He is nominated for Best Instrumental Album for A Tribute To Benny Moré And Nat King Cole, a project with Joey Calveiro and Cuban saxophonist Yainer Horta, and for Best Latin Jazz/Jazz Album for Gonzalo Plays Pino.

The Benny Moré and Nat King Cole tribute already won the U.S. Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album in February, strengthening its path into the Latin race. Rubalcaba, born in Havana in 1963 and based in Florida, is widely regarded as a leading figure in Afro-Cuban jazz and has previously won multiple Latin Grammys.

The ceremony is set for November 12, 2026 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will air on Univision. Other Cuban artists also appear among this year's nominees across tropical, instrumental and classical categories.

Fuente: Latin Recording Academy / Grammy.com; 14ymedio

Julio Gonzalo González Fonseca

Music, Composer, Pianist, Society

===BODY=== Cuban jazz pianist and composer whose stage name is Gonzalo Rubalcaba Framed within the post-bop era, Rubalcaba is a virtuoso instrumentalist who is considered one of the main figures of Afro-Cuban jazz. Member of a prominent family of musicians. He began his music studies at the Manuel Saumell Conservatory in his native city and later continued them at the Amadeo Roldán, where he also studied percussion.