Bad Bunny Dedicates Album of the Year Win at 2026 Grammys to Those Who ‘Had to Leave Their Homeland to Follow Their Dreams’

It’s Bad Bunny’s year.

The Puerto Rican star took home Album of the Year for DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, marking the first time a Spanish-language artist won in the category.

After Harry Styles announced his name, Bad Bunny, 31, burst into tears, trying to hold his composure before heading to the stage.

He began his speech in Spanish, giving a shoutout to Puerto Rico, saying, “Puerto Rico, believe me when I say we’re a lot bigger than 135,” referring to a highway that runs through Puerto Rico.

He continued, “Nothing exists that we can’t achieve. Thank you God. Thank you to the Academy. Thank you to all the people who have believed in me throughout my career. [I want to thank] all the people who worked on this album. Thank you mommy for birthing me in Puerto Rico. I love you.”

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“I want to dedicate this award to all the people that had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams,” he then said in English.

In Spanish, Bad Bunny added, “To all the people who have lost a loved one and have needed to keep going with much strength, this award is for you. Thank you for so much love. I love you.”

Before leaving the stage, he thanked all the Latinos in the world and the artists who came before him.

Bad Bunny was up against Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, Leon Thomas, Tyler, the Creator and Clipse, Pusha T & Malice.

It wasn’t his only win of the night. He also took home the award for Best Música Urbana Album for DTMF and Best Global Music Performance for “EoO.”

Following the release of the album — which translates to “I Should Have Taken More Pictures” in January 2025 — the star went on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and opened up about the inspiration for it.

“I should have embraced — appreciated — more of the moments, the present, I should have appreciated more the people who were around me, the people who loved me,” Bad Bunny said, adding that it’s about living in the moment.

Up next, the “MONACO” singer will perform at the upcoming Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on Feb. 8.

After the release of the trailer for the performance earlier this month, the rapper and singer said “what I’m feeling goes beyond myself.”

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“It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture, and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL,” he said.

The Grammys are broadcasting live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on CBS or stream them live and on-demand on Paramount+.