From career milestones to new releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.

Shakira Honors World Cup Workers, Venezuela Relief Volunteers, and Colombian Small Businesses in NYC

Shakira is turning her upcoming Brooklyn concert into a celebration of the people who have been showing up for others. Ahead of her Tuesday (July 21) show, the Colombian superstar gifted tickets to three groups of New Yorkers: volunteers at Lulla’s supporting earthquake relief efforts in Venezuela, union workers whose labor helped make the World Cup possible, and Colombian restaurant owners who participated in the city’s $26 World Cup dining special launched by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

“So much of what made this World Cup special is the work that most fans never see: the thousands of hotel rooms kept clean, all of the stadiums that worked so smoothly,” Shakira says in a statement shared exclusively with Billboard. “I wanted to show my gratitude for the people of New York City who made this incredible experience possible. Thank you for all of your hard work; you are the true she-wolves and it will be an honor to have you with me!”

“Union workers, so many of them women, who are making this World Cup possible, volunteers supporting Venezuela relief, and Colombian restaurateurs who opened their doors for the community are the heart of this city,” adds New York World Cup Czar Maya Handa. “For Shakira to give them a night to simply feel joy is a beautiful gesture, and exactly the spirit we want this World Cup to carry.”

Among those honored is NYHTC member Biviana Pereira Leiva, who said being recognized by the Colombian star felt especially meaningful. “I came to NYC from Barranquilla, Colombia, 10 years ago, and today I am a proud union member and room attendant at a Manhattan hotel,” she shares. Queens-based 32BJ member Sandra Leiton also praises Shakira’s resilience, saying immigrant women identify with her strength and the way she represents Colombia while recognizing “hardworking women and fighters like herself.”

Ximena Sariñana to Receive Hispanic Heritage Award for Music

Ximena Sariñana is set to receive the award for music at the 39th annual Hispanic Heritage Awards on Sept. 10 at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. The recognition, announced on Thursday (July 16), honors the Mexican singer-songwriter’s more than two decades of work across music, activism, and film and comes as the awards ceremony moves out of Washington, D.C., for the first time.

“I’m truly honored to receive this recognition from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation,” Sariñana says in a statement. “I accept this honor with immense gratitude and as a reminder of the responsibility we all have to continue creating, uplifting one another, and celebrating the richness of our Hispanic community.” Antonio Tijerino, president and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, adds, “Ximena is an embodiment of the leadership [that] our community and the world needs.” With a career that spans landmark albums such as Mediocre (2008 and Existencia Kamikaze (2025), the honor marks another major milestone for the Guadalajara star.

Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation Launches Fifth Leading Ladies Mentorship Program

The Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation announced on Wednesday (July 15) the launch of its fifth annual Leading Ladies of Entertainment Mentorship Program and Virtual Panel, continuing its mission to expand access and inspire the next generation of women in music and entertainment. Presented in partnership with Open Society Foundations, the initiative offers aspiring women in the industry three months of one-on-one mentorship from past Leading Ladies honorees and other trailblazing professionals, while also opening the conversation up to a broader audience through a new virtual panel hosted by Dayanara Torres.

“Since the launch of the Leading Ladies of Entertainment Mentorship Program in 2021, we have seen a significant increase in the number of young women pursuing careers in the music and entertainment industries who are seeking mentorship and guidance,” says executive director Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza in a statement. This year’s mentors include Lila Downs, Goyo, Leslie Grace, Angie Martínez, Dayanara Torres, Diana Rodríguez, Mónica Vélez and more.

BelicoFest’s Los Angeles Debut Draws 17,500 Fans

BelicoFest made its L.A. debut in a big way this past weekend (July 11), drawing more than 17,500 fans to BMO Stadium for a one-day celebration of música mexicana headlined by Tito Double P. The lineup also featured Gerardo Ortiz, Santa Fe Klan, Régulo Caro, Chuyin, Snow Tha Product, and Clave Especial, with OhGeesy delivering one of the night’s biggest surprises by bringing out Ty Dolla $ign and YG during his set.

The festival’s first L.A. edition underscored just how dominant música mexicana has become in one of its most important U.S. hubs. According to the release, this year’s BelicoFest lineup collectively reaches nearly 38 million monthly listeners on Spotify and has generated more than 10.2 billion streams over the past 12 months. With Los Angeles alone accounting for more than 74 million streams across the lineup, the event marked another major live milestone for a genre that continues to grow globally.

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Becky G Helps Communities in Mexico

In a new humanitarian effort, Becky G has partnered with Patrón and Mexican non-profit Isla Urbana for the launch of its Rainwater Project Limited-Edition PATRÓN Silver bottle.

Beyond a collectible bottle designed by the Mexican-American superstar herself, the initiative will fund the installation of 200 rainwater harvesting systems for households in Jalisco — the hometown of Becky’s four grandparents. This system will collect and store rainfall for everyday use, such as washing, bathing, cleaning, and watering plants, creating a more reliable source of water across various communities.

“Clean water isn’t a given for everyone in Jalisco — for many households, it isn’t something that just flows from the tap, but something you carry, store, and ration,” Becky G says in a press statement. “If you have a platform, you use it to lift others up, and I’m proud to do that alongside Patrón and Isla Urbana. I hope it inspires people to not take something as essential as water for granted.” For more information on this initiative, click here. — JESSICA ROIZ

Tainy Reps Latin Music Star Power to The Odyssey Premiere

Tainy represented Latin music at the U.S. premiere of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey in New York at AMC Lincoln Square on Tuesday (July 14). The Puerto Rican GRAMMY-winning producer — widely recognized as one of the key creative forces behind modern reggaetón — shared photos from the event on Instagram, giving fans a glimpse of his red carpet moment at one of the summer’s biggest film premieres.

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