Rosalía won at the III edition of the Spanish Music Academy Awards. She took home eight trophies out of the eight she was nominated for thanks to her latest album, the acclaimed Lux, which conquered the three major categories: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year for La Perla. The artist did not attend the ceremony and with her decision, she overshadowed an event that was left without seeing the winner of a party held last night at the Ifema Congress Palace (Madrid). She also did not send anyone to collect the haul of awards, so one of the event hostesses went on stage to take the trophies. When actress Alba Flores announced the seventh award for the Motomami singer, there was already some mockery in the air, and the witty and talented daughter of Antonio Flores quipped: “Let her come pick it up at my house, I’ll invite her for a coffee and toast with oil.”
At the eighth and final award, José María Barbat, president of her record label, Sony, finally appeared, excusing Rosalía: “We have done everything possible for her to be here, but her schedule is ungovernable.” The gala missed the Catalan until the warm and familiar smile of that unanimously admired musician named Joan Manuel Serrat, Honorary Award of the Academy, appeared on stage.
Wearing a gray jacket, a blue shirt, and jeans, when the author of Mediterráneo began to speak, silence took over the venue. “I didn’t expect this,” he joked at first to the delight of the audience. And he continued: “This is an award for survival, which usually comes at an advanced age. The truth is I would like to be given the breakthrough award, but things have gone this way…”. Then, for seven minutes, he delivered a delightful speech about how he came to music: “I have no family background related to music. I am the son of workers and grandson of peasants. But yes, they were singing people. I always remember my family singing. I sang with my mother when we made the beds or when I had to shell peas or separate lentils and so many things we did in the sacred atmosphere of the home kitchen.”
Later he admitted that the world today looks strange: “Thank goodness they gave me this award this year, because next year who knows where we will be with this absolutely crazy, stupid, and heartless world that is being established around us.” And he said goodbye thanking the audience: “Thanks to you I have been able to have a wonderful life that I would never have imagined when I was 20 years old.” What followed was a long and enthusiastic ovation.
As an appetizer to Serrat’s speech, harmonica player Antonio Serrano (National Music Award 2025), flamenco singer María Terremoto (what a voice), and singer-songwriter Andrés Suárez performed a heartfelt version of one of the honoree’s classics, the monumental Romance de Curro ‘El Palmo’.
After Rosalía, Leiva followed in the winners’ list with four awards, and urban singer Lia Kali with three. There were up to 43 categories.
The third edition of these music awards, promoted by the still short-lived Spanish Music Academy, was completed. It started in 2023 with the aim of uniting the profession and finally consolidating awards that work as the musical equivalent to the cinematic Goyas. There is still a long way to go, but yesterday’s event represents a cornerstone in a building that was born cracked after a blurred and lazy first edition in 2024, and that corrected its course last year, when Rozalén triumphed. The broadcast by RTVE, last night on La 2, seems fundamental. Hopefully, this agreement will be consolidated.
A reprimand for the artists who missed last night, especially the nominated stars, who fulfill the mission of adding shine to these parties. Besides Rosalía, neither Guitarricadelafuente (his presence would have been a great point after his success in Cannes as an actor in the film La bola negra) nor Aitana nor Rusowsky were seen there. The four dominated the major categories. Others were present, no less relevant and, apparently, more committed to the musical institutions of their country, such as Fito Cabrales, Luz Casal, Leiva, Rubén Pozo, Amaia Romero, Amaral, M-Clan, Sidonie, or Valeria Castro. And of course Joan Manuel Serrat, who arrived in a car with Ana Belén. Both were received by the Academy president, singer Sole Giménez.
“Wherever you are, this applause is for you, Robe.” This is how Leonor Watling, the presenter, said goodbye to the tribute to the former leader of Extremoduro. The ceremony began with a musical remembrance of the great artist, who passed away last December. It started with the singer of Siloé, Fito Robles, performing Ama, ama, ama y ensancha el alma, then flamenco singer Lela Soto and maestro Rafael Riqueni on guitar performed a moving flamenco version of Stanby, Walls took the baton with Nada que perder, and Xoel López ended by singing Si te vas…
Amaral also performed, with Eva interpreting, with her usual vigor, Dolce Vita. One of the most refreshing things about these events is that the musical numbers stray from the usual promotional song. The Zaragoza duo did not see it that way. Ultraligera did, performing a convincing Tiempos nuevos, tiempos salvajes, by Ilegales, a tribute to their leader, Jorge Martínez, who, like Robe, left us in December.
The two hours of the ceremony, despite sometimes seeming somewhat improvised, passed quickly and the night was not heavy. There are issues to resolve, such as choosing a more suitable date: organizing a party at the end of May 2026 that awards albums from 2025 seems, at first, a bit late. Maybe they will reconsider this for 2027.
The night ended with the excellent band that starred in the musical numbers, 13 musicians led by Pablo Cebrián, accompanying Luz Casal, who rocked with the song ¿Qué has hecho conmigo? A good closing.
Winners of the main categories of the 2026 Music Academy Awards
– Album of the Year
Si abro los ojos no es real – Amaia
Dolce Vita – Amaral
Gigante – Leiva
LUX – Rosalía – WINNER
DAISY – rusowsky
– Artist of the Year
Aitana
Amaia
Guitarricadelafuente
Rosalía – WINNER
rusowsky
– Song of the Year
M.A.P.S., by Amaia
Full time papi, by Guitarricadelfuente
Caida libre feat ROBE, by Leiva
La Perla (feat Yahritza y su esencia), by Rosalía – WINNER
malibU, by rusowsky
– Composer of the Year
Eva Amaral and Juan Aguirre, for Dolce Vita
Leiva, for El polvo de los días raros
Guitarricadelfuente, for Full time papi
Rosalía, for La Perla (feat Yahritza y su esencia) – WINNER
Ruslán Mediavilla (rusowsky), for malibU
Valeria Castro, for Tiene que ser más fácil
– Best New Artist
Barry B – Infancia mal calibrada
La Paloma – Un golpe de suerte
Rata – EP Niñato
Sanguijuelas del Guadiana – Revola – WINNERS
Ultraligera – Pelo de foca
– Best Pop Album
CUARTO AZUL, by Aitana
Si abro los ojos no es real, by Amaia
La boca del lobo, by Carlos Ares
Spanish Leather, by Guitarricadelafuente
LUX, by Rosalía – WINNER
– Best Pop Song
Superestrella, by Aitana
M.A.P.S, by Amaia
Full Time Papi, by Guitarricadelafuente
¿Era esto la vida?, by Zahara
La Perla (feat Yahritza y su esencia), by Rosalía – WINNER
– Best Pop/Rock Album
Dolce Vita, by Amaral – WINNERS
Me voy a permitir, by Luz Casal
50town, by Rubén Pozo
Everest, by Sidecars
Catalan Graffiti, by Sidonie
– Best Pop/Rock Song
Dolce Vita, by Amaral
El amor te da miedo, by Kitai
Caída libre feat. ROBE, by Leiva – WINNER
¿Qué has hecho conmigo?, by Luz Casal
La misma canción, by Sidecars
– Best Rock Album
Joven y arrogante, by Ilegales
Ecdisis, by Ciclonautas
El monte de los aullidos, by Fito & Fitipaldis – WINNER
El dios de América, by King Sapo
Malici, by Mago de Oz
– Best Alternative Music Album
Canciones contra el fin del mundo, by Alamedadosoulna
Solitud, by Carlos Escobedo
Spanish Leather, by Guitarricadelafuente – WINNER
San Felices, by La Maravillosa Orquesta del Alcohol
Eternamente en vivo, by Lagartija Nick
– Best Alternative Music Song
Mi diario, by Ginebras
Babieca, by Guitarricadelafuente – WINNER
Mandamientos para la buena vida, by Karmento & Le parody
Los tiempos que vivimos, by La Maravillosa Orquesta del Alcohol
malibU, by rusowsky
– Best Traditional Pop Album
¿Y ahora qué +?, by Alejandro Sanz
El recreo, by Colectivo Panamera
El tiempo no es oro, by Antonio Orozco
Me voy a permitir, by Luz Casal – WINNER
Pueblo Salvaje II, by Manuel Carrasco
– Best Urban Music Album
El interiorista, by Bejo
Escrito en la M-30, by Grecas
La madrugá, by Delaossa
Kaelis, by Lia Kali – WINNER
afroLOVA 25′, by RELS B
– Best Flamenco Album
El primer llanto, by Alejandro Hurtado
Manifiesto, by María Terremoto – WINNER
Directo en el círculo flamenco de Madrid, by Luis El Zambo
Nerja, by Rafael Niqueni
El fuego que llevo dentro, by Lela Soto
Guerra a todo eso, by Frente Abierto
– Best Singer-Songwriter Album
Sílvia & Salvador, by Salvador Sobral & Sílvia Pérez Cruz – WINNERS
Judit Neddermann & Pau Figuers, by Judit Neddermann & Pau Figuers
No es para menos (canciones inéditas 1984-2019), by Rafael Berrio
Parceiros, by Pedro Guerra
El cuerpo después de todo, by Valeria Castro
– Best Tour
Dolce Vita Tour, by Amaral
Sangre Sucia, by Ángeles Toledano
Tour Gigante, by Leiva – WINNER
Si abro los ojos no es real, by Amaia
25 p*t*s años, by Dani Martín
