The nominees for the 2026 Cubadisco Awards were announced on 1 May. This year’s edition of the music industry event in Cuba is dedicated to Cuban son music, and the event reflects the clear desire of the Cuban Institute of Music (ICM) and Ministry of Culture to continue promoting recording, despite the challenging times.
The International Music Industry Fair, which will take place from May 16 to 24, is paying special tribute this year to the musician Jorge Gómez Barranco (1943-2026), leader of Grupo Moncada and president of Cubadisco for over a decade, who recently passed away.
Indira Fajardo, president of the ICM, welcomed those present, acknowledging Gómez’s legacy, work, dedication, commitment, and commitment throughout his life, right up until his final days.
“Despite the current situation in the country, this Cubadisco event had to happen because Cuban musicians and music defend Cuba, their homeland, first and foremost; and also because we have to give the Cuban people a lot of joy, something they want to take away from us, and which we have a responsibility to maintain,” Fajardo stated.
She emphasized that, despite austerity measures, electricity difficulties, and fuel shortages, Cubadisco maintains its mission of recognizing the work done in the recording industry during 2025.
Fajardo concluded by inviting everyone to enjoy and experience the great celebration of Cuban music through radio, television, social media, the streets, and institutions; and to recognize each other among the musicians themselves, since this morning’s purpose has been to embrace them, to collectively acknowledge the good and the worthwhile aspects of Cuban music.
Musicologist and producer Cary Diez, president of the Awards Committee, congratulated the entire team who, overcoming all kinds of difficulties and making great efforts, ensured the realization of a program that didn’t begin with the Nominees’ Gala, but rather required much prior dedication; all for the sacred act of creation.
A total of 220 works were submitted, 124 were nominated: 35 in general categories, including discographic and musicological notes, sound design, graphic design, and debut album—the most debate this year was precisely about this category—awards that once again showcase a diverse landscape, where established artists on national and international stages, with accolades from well-established competitions and favoured by the global industry, continue to support Cubadisco, Diez added.
The music nominated ranges from instrumental jazz to urban music, with titles such as the experimental Locuras by Rolando Luna and Annys Batista, the documentary Ecos del Tivolí (a tribute to the legendary Santiago-based group), the album by the Abreu Brothers, Rastros del alba, and the energetic Virus by Formell and Los Van Van.
Also competing for one of the country’s most prestigious music awards are the documentary Detrás del Muro by Gretel Cazón and the international collaboration Voce, by Gino Sitson, Alejandro Rodríguez, and poet Nancy Morejón, among other entries.
International collaborations also have a place: pianist Roberto Fonseca is competing with Nuit Parisienne à La Havane, alongside French cellist Vincent Segal, while the alternative scene is backing the refined pop of Labios rojos by urban artist Fabicile.
As a new feature, the competition is debuting the En Redes category, dedicated to productions conceived for the digital ecosystem.
Alongside the extensive list of nominations, the Special Awards were presented, beginning with the audiobook and CD The Controversy of the Century in Improvised Verse, narrated by Roly Ávalos and Alex Díaz—leaders of Oralitura Habana—and produced by the Colibrí label and the Cuban Book Institute. This was an original idea by Fidel Antonio Orta to commemorate the eponymous event that took place 70 years ago, involving his father, Jesús Orta Ruiz known as “El Indio Naborí” and Angelito Valiente.
“With this award in my hand / and even with a nervous voice, / I don’t know how to speak in prose, / I only speak in Punto Cubano. / It’s too early / perhaps for the award, / but improvisation has so broken the spell / that the décima is the future / and also tradition,” the young Ávalos improvised as he accepted the award.
Other Special Awards were presented at the event to journalist Joaquín Borges Triana, and singer-songwriter Augusto Blanca. Teachers Elvira Fuentes and Iliana García received joint honours for their teaching methods in music theory and harmony, alongside the National Museum of Music, for its support of research work reflected in music video productions.
As part of the diverse programme, a trade exhibition will be held at the venues, and the traditional Symposium will take place from 19-21 May at Pabellón Cuba in a hybrid format, where specialists and industry professionals will analyze son as an expression of identity , featuring tributes to José “Pepe” Reyes Fortún, the 55th anniversary of the National Museum of Music, and 40 years of Clave magazine.
The program for one of the island’s most prestigious musical events will be available on the Institute’s digital platforms and the event’s own platforms, while the Clave television channel will once again become Canal Cubadisco.
2 NOMINATIONS FOR SANTIAGO GROUP ECOS DE TIVOLI
The Sextet Ecos del Tivolí, a prominent representative of Cuban son from Santiago, has added two nominations for Cubadisco 2026 in the Heritage category to its list of achievements. Group leader Cambet explained that the album Yo soy el son—the ninth production by Ecos del Tivolí, nominated in the Traditional Son category—consists of 10 tracks, all written by composer and producer Jorge Javier González. The album was recorded in Santiago de Cuba. The group is also nominated in the music video/film category for the first time. The film is based on the album Yo soy el son and was filmed at the headquarters of the Teatro Estudio Macubá in Santiago de Cuba, under the direction of filmmaker Ray Mila.
13 NOMINATIONS FOR EGREM LABEL
“We are very happy, because these are very difficult times for production, but we have received 13 nominations, which we didn’t expect, because there are many high-quality albums submitted,” Egrem’s executive producer, Elsida González told the press. “We have several categories: instrumental, songwriting, contemporary song, sound design—a category that is always much debated—and traditional son…I want to highlight,” he added, “some wonderful young women called Labios de María, with their work Travesía, who have performed versions of songs by Israel Rojas and Buena Fe, in the styles of son, changüí, and bolero. It’s truly a beautiful piece of work.”
Regarding the work done amidst the country’s difficult economic conditions, González responded that what was accomplished was thanks to the collaboration of the artists who have helped and chosen to remain with the record label.
Taken from reports by CubaSi.cu and Granma.cu
For further details and the complete list of nominees for CUBADISCO Awards 2026, you can access the link here to a downloadable PDF document.
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