Cristian Castro will receive the Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Billboard Latin Music Awards, according to Billboard, which announced the honor Tuesday alongside Telemundo. The Mexican pop icon is being recognized for more than three decades of work and for his lasting influence on Latin music.
Castro will also take the stage for a special performance during the ceremony. The show goes live Thursday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m. ET on Telemundo and Peacock, broadcast from the James L. Knight Center in Miami.
Castro reacted in a statement, describing the honor in personal terms.
“Receiving the Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award is a tremendous honor and a very special moment in my career,” Cristian Castro said in a statement.
What does the Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award honor?
The award goes to an artist whose long career has widened the reach of Latin music around the world, and who stays relevant through both artistic work and personal contributions. Past honorees include Andrea Bocelli, Armando Manzanero, Carlos Santana, JosĂ© JosĂ©, Maná, Marco Antonio SolĂs, Ricardo Arjona and Roberto Carlos, among others.
Castro’s chart history began in 1992, when “No Podrás” debuted on Hot Latin Songs and climbed to No. 3, according to Billboard. His debut album, Agua Nueva, reached No. 2 on Top Latin Pop Albums in January 1993. Both entries came early in a chart run that has continued for more than three decades.
He has since earned six No. 1s on Hot Latin Songs, including “Nunca Voy a Olvidarte,” “Amor” and “Azul,” which held the top spot for four, 11 and nine weeks. Years later, Viva El PrĂncipe, his tribute to legendary Mexican singer JosĂ© JosĂ©, spent seven weeks at No. 1 on Top Latin Albums in 2011.
The timeline runs from a 1992 debut to an award announced in October 2026, with the ceremony itself set for Oct. 22. Castro’s 1993 album came early in a career that has since produced a steady stream of hits, and this honor builds on that record.
Castro is also touring with his Nada Solo Éxitos Tour, which has included stops at Mexico City’s Auditorio Nacional and New York City’s Madison Square Garden. He has sold more than 12 million records to date, the report notes. His touring keeps his catalog in front of live audiences.
Billboard calls Castro one of the defining voices of Latin pop and romantic music. In the same statement, he thanked Billboard and the fans who have followed him on the journey, and said he looks forward to celebrating with them on the awards stage.
The ceremony also honors RubĂ©n Blades with the Billboard Icon Award, RosalĂa with the Billboard Hall of Fame Award and Fuerza Regida with the Billboard Vanguard Award. Peso Pluma leads the list of finalists with 17 mentions, followed by Tito Double P with 15 and Fuerza Regida with 12.
Karol G is a nine-time finalist, Prince Royce has been named eight times and Bad Bunny seven times. Those figures count mentions on this year’s finalist list.
Confirmed performers and presenters include Carlos Rivera, Ozuna, Manuel Turizo, Pablo Alborán, Elvis Crespo, Ha*Ash and VĂctor Manuelle, among a long list of others. The list also includes Nella, Melymel, Yahritza y Su Esencia and Paola Jara.
Fans can watch the broadcast on Telemundo, stream it on the Telemundo app or Peacock, or catch it on Telemundo Internacional across Latin America and the Caribbean. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
The awards are produced by Telemundo and MBS Special Events and coincide with Billboard Latin Music Week, which returns to Miami Beach Oct. 19 to 22. That week’s lineup also includes Greeicy, Jay Wheeler, Kany GarcĂa, Maluma, Pitbull, Rawayana, Ryan Castro, Trueno and Zhamira, with many more names listed.
For more details on tickets and the wider week, readers can visit BillboardLatinMusicWeek.com. The next step is the Oct. 22 ceremony, where Castro will perform for the audience in Miami and viewers watching live.
Quick answers
When is the 2026 Billboard Latin Music Awards ceremony?
The ceremony airs live on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m. ET on Telemundo and Peacock, from the James L. Knight Center in Miami.
Who is receiving the Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award in 2026?
Cristian Castro will receive the award, according to Billboard, in recognition of an exceptional career spanning over three decades.
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Source: Billboard
