History of the HEAT Awards

The HEAT Latin Music Awards are recognitions that are awarded annually to highlight the work and popularity of artists and influencers from Latin America. The event began to be held in 2015 in the tourist area of Punta Cana, in Dominican Republic, where it was held until 2024. In 2025, it moved to Medellín, Colombia.

The founder of the award is the businesswoman and entertainment publicist Diana Montes, of Colombian nationality, who, along with Turner Internacional, the company that owns the HTV television channel, presented this ceremony in 2014 at the Cap Cana tourist complex.

What are the HEAT Awards?

The HEAT Awards are awards for Spanish-language music held in Latin America, highlighting the best Latin music talent with the beach as the setting and the Caribbean Sea as the main spectator. During one night a year, the whole world focuses on this ceremony that honors Spanish-language music and the influencers of the region. The HEAT Awards are the most important Latin awards in the industry, held on Latin American soil, and the only ones that offer a paradisiacal experience by having the beach as a setting and the Caribbean Sea as a great witness.

Until 2024, nine editions of the HEAT Awards have been held, becoming a global trend on social media and in the media, and marking a milestone in the music market. In these editions, the beautiful Dominican Republic was the home where the most relevant Latin superstars gathered to be part of and enjoy an extraordinary tribute to the best talent of this sound art.

In 2025, the production decided to move to the city of Medellín, Colombia, this being the first place outside the Dominican Republic where the award is held.

Ediciones anteriores Premios HEAT

La Primera Edición (2015)

The first edition of the HEAT Awards was held on June 4, 2015, at Juanillo beach, hosted by Colombian Karen Martínez and Ismael Cala. The most nominated in the first year were Chino & Nacho and J Balvin, with the former being the most winners.

Winners First Edition HEAT Awards (2015):

- Best Video: ‘Ay Vamos’ – J Balvin

- Best Male Artist: J Balvin

- Best Female Artist: Anais Vivas

- Best Group or Band: Alkilados

- Best Rock/Pop Artist: Lasso

- Best Urban Artist: J Balvin

- Best Tropical Artist: Chino y Nacho

- Best Artist North Region: Alexis y Fido

- Best Andean Region Artist: Víctor Drija

- Best Artist South Region: Axel

- Revelation Artist: Kent y Tony

- Gold Award: Juanes

- Premio Compromiso: Juan Luis Guerra

Second Edition 2016

On June 16, 2016, the second edition was held again in Cap Cana, this time with Colombian Jéssica Cediel as the host. Among the artists who attended were Víctor Manuelle, Luis Fonsi, Maluma, Karol G, Joey Montana, Chino & Nacho, Farruko, SanLuis, Mike Bahía, Gente de Zona, Alkilados, among others. In this second installment, the big winners were Maluma, Farruko and Chino & Nacho, each with two HEAT Globes.

Winners Second Edition (2016):

- Best Female Artist: Karol G

- Best Male Artist: Maluma

- Best Artist South Region: Axel

- Best Andean Region Artist: Maluma

- Best Artist North Region: Farruko

- Best Tropical Artist: Víctor Manuelle

- Best Group or Band: Chino y Nacho

- Best Rock/Pop Artist: HaAsh

- Best Urban Artist: Nicky Jam

- Revelation Artist: Sebastián Yatra

- Premio Compromiso: Luis Fonsi

- Gold Award: Ricardo Montaner

- Best Video: Chino y Nacho Ft. Farruko

Tercera Edición (2017)

In 2017, the HEAT Awards were held on June 8 with Clarissa Molina and Enrique Santos as hosts.

Winners Third Edition HEAT Awards (2017):

- Revelation Artist: CNCO

- Best Tropical Artist / Gold Award: Carlos Vives

- Premio Compromiso: Víctor Manuelle

- Best Andean Region Artist: Sebastián Yatra

- Best Artist North Region: Farruko

- Best Southern Region Artist: Lali Espósito

- Best Rock Artist: Juanes

- Best Pop Artist: Jesse & Joy

- Best Group or Band: Chino & Nacho

- Best Female Artist: Fanny Lu

- Best Urban Artist, Best Video (“Bobo”), Best Male Artist: J Balvin

2018: No Awards

The awards ceremony was not held in 2018.

Cuarta Edición (2029)

On May 13, 2019, the HEAT Awards were held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana. This new edition was hosted by Mariela Encarnación, co-host of CNN en Español, and Anais Castro, presenter of HTV and TNT. The Red Carpet was animated by the renowned Colombian influencer Luisa Fernanda W, her compatriot Heisel Mora, presenter of TNT and Los40, and Caroline Aquino, host of the Dominican channel Telemicro.

Winners Fourth Edition HEAT Awards (2019):

- Best Andean Region Artist: Mike Bahía

- Best Artist South Region: Américo

- Best Artist North Region: Juan Magán

- Best Tropical Artist: Víctor Manuelle

- Revelation Artist: Anuel AA

- Best Group or Band: Zion & Lennox

- Best Female Artist: Karol G

- Best Urban Artist: J Balvin

- Best Male Artist: J Balvin

- Best Video: “Pineapple” – Karol G

- Best Collaboration: “Amantes” – Greeicy y Mike Bahía

- Best Pop Artist: Sebastián Yatra

- Best Rock Artist: Juanes

- Gold Award: J Balvin

- Premio Compromiso: Juanes

- Recognition for Innovation in Latin Music: Farruko

- Recognition of the Trajectory: Roberto Antonio

Quinta Edición (2020)

The HEAT Latin Music Awards 5th Edition took place in Playa Juanillo of Cap Cana, hosted by Caroline Aquino and Osmariel Villalobos, while the digital set was in charge of Isaura Taveras and Mario Ruiz. Nicky Jam, Nacho, Eddy Herrera, El Alfa, Prince Royce, Justin Quiles, Manuel Turizo, Leslie Shaw, Greeicy, Mike Bahía, Danny Ocean, Alex Rose, Joss Favela, Martha Heredia and many more artists were invited.

Winners Fifth Edition (2020):

- Best Urban Artist: Karol G

- Best Female Artist: Greeicy

- Best Male Artist: Nicky Jam

- Best Pop Artist: Camilo

- Best Rock Artist: Juanes

- Best Group or Band: Morat

- Best Tropical Artist: Eddy Herrera

- Best Artist South Region: Leslie Shaw

- Best North Region Artist: Nicky Jam

- Best Andean Region Artist: Manuel Turizo

- Best Collaboration: “Con Altura” – Rosalía, J Balvin, Ft. El Guincho

- Best Regional Popular Artist: Pipe Bueno

- Musical Promise: Guaynaa

- Revelation Artist: El Alfa

- Influencer of the Year: Marko

- Best Video: “Tusa” – Karol G, Nicki Minaj

- Gold Award: Nicky Jam

- Commitment Award: Nacho

- Recognition of the Trajectory: Eddy Herrera

- Recognition Icon: Prince Royce

Sexta Edición (2021)

The HEAT Latin Music Awards celebrated its Sixth Edition in Playa Juanillo of Cap Cana on July 1, 2021, hosted by the Colombian model and presenter Melina Ramírez along with the tiktoker Kunno. The red carpet of the HEAT Awards was in charge of the Puerto Rican announcer and influencer Molusco, the Dominican presenter Jessica Pereira and the Colombians: the DJ and producer Alex Sensation and the model and presenter Maria Laura Quintero.

Winners Sixth Edition HEAT Awards (2021):

- Best Male Artist: Nicky Jam

- Best Female Artist: Danna Paola

- Best Group or Band: CNCO

- Best Rock Artist: Morat

- Best Pop Artist: Camilo

- Best Urban Artist: Karol G

- Best Tropical Artist: Prince Royce

- Best Artist South Region: Anitta

- Best Andean Region Artist: Farina

- Best North Region Artist: Lunay

- Revelation Artist: Boza

- Musical Promise: JD Pantoja

- Influencer of the Year: Kimberly Loaiza

- Best Video: “Mi Niña Remix” – Wisin, Myke Towers, Maluma Ft. Anitta

- Best Regional Popular Artist: Paola Jara

- Best Dominican Urban Artist: El Alfa

- Best Collaboration: “Ella No Es Tuya Remix” – Rochy RD, Myke Towers & Nicki Nicole

- Gold Award: Wisin

- Premio Compromiso: Gloria Trevi

- Trajectory and Innovation: Arcángel

- Female Empowerment: Anitta

- Trajectory: Wilkins

Séptima Edición (2022)

The seventh edition of the HEAT Latin Music Awards took place on June 2, 2022, at the Margaritaville Reserve Cap Cana hotel complex. The special preshow of the HEAT Awards Carpet was hosted by Sebas, Heisel Mora, and Marko.

Winners Seventh Edition HEAT Awards (2022):

- Best Male Artist: Wisin

- Best Female Artist: Karol G

- Best Group or Band: Wisin y Yandel

- Best Rock Artist: Morat

- Best Pop Artist: Greeicy

- Best Urban Artist: Nicky Jam

- Best Tropical Artist: Carlos Vives

- Best Artist South Region: Tiago PZK

- Best Andean Region Artist: Danny Ocean

- Best Artist North Region: Justin Quiles

- Revelation Artist: Ryan Castro

- Musical Promise: Dekko

- Influencer of the Year: Calle y Poché

- Best Video: “Entre Nosotros Remix” – Tiago PZK, Lit Killah, Maria Becerra, Nicki Nicole

- Best Regional Popular Artist: Christian Nodal

- Best Dominican Urban Artist: El Alfa

- Best Collaboration: “Loco” – Justin Quiles, Chimbala, Zion & Lennox

- Lifetime Achievement Awards: Gilberto Santa Rosa, Zion & Lennox, Fonseca

Octava Edición 2023

The eighth edition of the HEAT Awards took place on June 8, 2023, hosted by Wendy Guevara, Marko, and Caroline Aquino.

Winners Eighth Edition HEAT Awards (2023):

- Best Male Artist: Feid

- Best Female Artist: Greeicy

- Best Group or Band: Grupo Niche

- Best Rock Artist: Morat

- Best Pop Artist: Sebastián Yatra

- Best Urban Artist: Karol G

- Best Tropical Artist: Romeo Santos

- Best Artist South Region: Bizarrap

- Best Andean Region Artist: Mike Bahía

- Best Artist North Region: Jay Wheeler

- Revelation Artist: LIT Killah

- Musical Promise: Mario Bautista

- Influencer of the Year: Domelipa

- Best Regional Popular Artist: Christian Nodal

- Best Dominican Urban Artist: El Alfa

- Best Video: “Mientras Me Curo del Cora” – Karol G

- Best Collaboration: “La Jumpa” – Arcángel, Bad Bunny

- Best Music Platform Content: Alofoke Media

- DJ of the Year: DJ Adoni

Winners Ninth Edition HEAT Awards (2024)

Best Male Artist - Feid

Best Female Artist - Karol G

Best Group or Band - Morat

Best Rock Artist - Mar Rendón

Best Pop Artist - Manuel Medrano

Best Urban Artist - Karol G

Best Tropical Artist (Bachata, Merengue, Vallenato, Cumbia) - Silvestre Dangond

Best Salsa Artist - Yiyo Sarante

Best South Region Artist - Anitta

Best Artist Andean Region - Danny Ocean

Best Artist North Region - Lenny Tavárez

Breakthrough Artist - Elena Rose

Musical Promise - Los Esquivel

Influencer of the Year - La Segura

Best Regional Popular Artist - Luis Alfonso

Best Dominican Urban Artist - La Perversa

Best Video - “S91” – Karol G 

Best Collaboration - “Contigo” – Karol G, Tiësto

Best Content Platform - La Nave Podcast (Marko) 

DJ of the Year - Dj Adoni 

Song of the Year - “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” – Karol G 

Producer of the Year - Ovy On The Drums

Music Video Director of the Year - Sebas Sánchez 

Album of the Year - Mañana Será Bonito Bichota Season – Karol G

Best Viral Song - “Luna” – Feid, ATL, Jacob

Composer of the Year - Feid 

Best Song for Video Games, Series or Movies - Karol G, feat Aldo Ranks – “Watati” (Barbie) 

Fandom of the Year - Fandom La Segura

Best Religious Song - “Pan Duro” – Alex Campos

General Table by Edition – HEAT Awards

Edición	Año	Lugar	Anfitriones	Más ganadores	Nº premios	Más nominados	Nº nominaciones
1	2015	Playa Juanillo, Cap Cana	Karen Martínez, Ismael Cala	Chino & Nacho	3	J Balvin	4
2	2016	Cap Cana	Jéssica Cediel	Chino & Nacho, Maluma, Farruko	2 c/u	Nicky Jam	4
3	2017	Cap Cana	Clarissa Molina, Enrique Santos	J Balvin	3	J Balvin, Farruko	4 c/u
4	2019	Hard Rock Hotel, Punta Cana	Anaís Castro, Mariela Encarnación	J Balvin	3	J Balvin	4
5	2020	Playa Juanillo, Cap Cana	Caroline Aquino, Osmariel Villalobos	Karol G, Nicky Jam	2 c/u	J Balvin	7
6	2021	Playa Juanillo, Cap Cana	Melina Ramírez, Kunno	Anitta, Karol G, Anuel AA	2 c/u	Karol G	2
7	2022	Margaritaville, Cap Cana	Heisel Mora, Sebastián Villalobos, otros	Carlos Vives, Wisin, Tiago PZK, Quiles	2 c/u	Bad Bunny, J Balvin	4 c/u
8	2023	Playa Juanillo, Cap Cana	Wendy Guevara, Marko, Caroline Aquino	Karol G	5	Karol G, Feid	6 c/u
9	2024	Medellín, Colombia	No especificado	Karol G	6	Karol G	No disponible

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