Every month, Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors spotlight a group of rising artists whose music we love. Think “diamantes en bruto,” or “diamonds in the rough.” These are newcomers who have yet to impact the mainstream — but whose music excites us, and who we believe our readers should make a point to discover.
Our latest edition of On the Radar Latin includes a wave of emerging artists, who we discovered by scrolling on social media, networking, or coming across their music at a showcase, for example. See our April 2026 recommendation below.
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Name: Aiona Santana
Country: Venezuela, Canada
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Aiona Santana is a Venezuelan-Canadian singer-songwriter who has been building her career independently, fusing pop, urban music and traditional Venezuelan rhythms. A graduate of Carleton University — where she studied voice and composition — she began releasing music in 2018 and is currently signed to Anthem Entertainment, one of Canada’s leading independent publishers. Her debut album — from which she has already released singles such as “Bandido” and “Amiga Infiel” featuring the duo OKAN — is set to arrive in May. “It is a concept project based on the four elements (water, earth, fire, and air) and a fifth element — ether — which represents the essence that connects the entire universe of the album,” Aiona tells Billboard, adding that, as a Venezuela-born artist, she feels “a responsibility to bring our history and our sounds to a global context, especially from within the diaspora.” — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Song for Your Playlist: “bandidos”
Name: El Rojo y Nestor Meness
Country: Cuba
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Both El Rojo and Nestor Meness have led their own solo careers until they joined forces in 2025 with “Esperando Por Ti.” Beyond just a collaboration, the pair has since released music as the power duo El Rojo y Nestor Meness, fusing their melodious vocals backed by a wide range of genres stemming from flamenco to bolero to cumbia to reparto to ranchera. What truly makes the Cuban newcomers a standout act is their fearless, emotional and passionate way of writing songs about the political climate in the island, which “Me Duele Cuba,” “i220A,” “90 MILLAS” and “Libre” all attest to.
Currently, El Rojo y Nestor are making the rounds with a flamenco version of Selena’s timeless norteño hit “Si Una Vez,” which garnered the stamp of approval from Selena’s very own brother (and the song’s writer and producer) AB Quintanilla III. “Love the way these guys put their own original twist on this classic hit. When you step to the mic, bring it or go home,” he expressed on Instagram. — JESSICA ROIZ
Song for Your Playlist: “Si Una Vez” (a Selena cover)
Name: Juan Vegas
Country: Venezuela
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: He has written songs for stars such as Manuel Turizo, Belinda, Piso 21, Kenia Os, Zion & Lennox, Prince Royce, Danna Paola and Wisin. And now, after years of crafting hits behind the scenes, Juan Vegas steps into the spotlight as a singer, showcasing a polished and professional sound that reflects his extensive musical background — despite being just 27 years old. Vegas, who began his musical studies at age 7 at a conservatory in his hometown of Sarare, Venezuela, moved to Medellín, Colombia, at 19 to broaden his horizons and continued his journey in Mexico City, where he moved fluidly between pop, urban and regional Mexican music.
Having released several musical projects in recent years, he now continues his path in Miami as an independent artist with the EP El Plan de Dios — a heartfelt love letter inspired by his romantic relationship with Puerto Rican artist DREAH. “It’s titled ‘El Plan de Dios’ [God’s Plan] because when I look back on my life, there are so many things I can’t explain: doors that opened and coincidences that I can now only make sense of by realizing that God had already written this path before I ever walked it,” Vegas stated in a press release. I predict a long and fruitful musical journey ahead for him. — S.R.A.
Song for Your Playlist: “Si Dios Me Hubiera Dicho”
Name: La Nueva Ola de la Cumbia
Country: United States
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Seeing La Nueva Ola de Cumbia in action lifts anyone’s spirits; this collective — comprising musicians from Colombia, Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Peru — is a party from start to finish. Based in Los Angeles, California, they set out to fuse merengue, reggaetónn and cumbia with the high-octane energy they project from the stage. To their festive, irreverent and spirited vibe, they add a distinctive visual flair: Mexican-style luchador masks that lend an air of mystery to the members’ identities. A few weeks ago, they performed at SXSW, leaving a strong impression with their music and positive energy. Now, La Nueva Ola de Cumbia is gearing up for their self-titled debut album on May 13 — a release preceded by the single “Llegó La Nueva Ola.” This track serves as a prime example of the group’s core concept: though multicultural in origin, they all converge at a single point —the Latin blood coursing through their veins. — TERE AGUILERA
Song for Your Playlist: “Llegó La Nueva Ola”
Name: Ladrones
Country: Mexico
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: A group of musicians and producers hailing from Mexico’s hip-hop and metal scenes is reinventing the iconic sound of the “new wave” of regional Mexican music. Drawing on the sierreño style — characterized by the nine- and twelve-string guitars typical of corridos tumbados — Ladrones fuses this tradition with powerful nu-metal riffs, reflecting themes of diversity, multiculturalism, and creative freedom. Rapper Zxmyr, vocalist Cirujano Resendez, producer and guitarist José Macario and drummer Diego Zornoz make up this powerful emerging band, founded in Guadalajara in 2021.
Driven by an urban sensibility, the group embraces raw lyrics exploring social and personal themes — a style exemplified in songs such as “Altar” and “Veneno.” The band has garnered such significant acclaim that it has just been signed by Rise Records, the label home to acts such as AFI, Placebo and At the Drive-In. Following its appearance at the most recent edition of the Vive Latino festival, Ladrones is currently touring the United States, with a scheduled stop at the Welcome to Rockville festival in Florida. — NATALIA CANO
Song For Your Playlist: “Ay Ay AY”
Name: Maisak
Country: Colombia
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Maisak initially began his career in 2021, but it wasn’t until 2024 that he made an impact on social media. With the heartfelt (and viral) chorus line from “Se Me Olvida” — “I keep forgetting that I’m your ex, that I lost you/ And now the love of my life is with the love of her life” — he immediately received the stamp of approval from artists such as Feid, Maluma and Jay Wheeler. The former of the three even hopped on the official remix.
Now, signed to Maluma’s indie label Royalty Records, the Colombian artist from Santa Marta has done it again with his recent single, “Te Entiendo.” On the heart-wrenching reggaetón groove, powered by weeping violin strings, he chants: “Baby, I get it/ If I were my ex, I wouldn’t be able to get over me either/ Not to brag, but I’m the best thing that ever came into your life.” The artist born Maikel Rafael Rico Torres has become a sensation among today’s generation with his effortless and natural ability to fuse urban music with the essence of vallenato’s lyrics. — J.R.
Song for Your Playlist: “Te Entiendo”
Name: Max Luiz
Country: Brazil
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Max Luiz has been cultivating a unique style that fuses reggaetón, R&B, and pop, releasing music primarily in Spanish. A self-taught and trilingual artist — fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English — he explores themes such as desire and loss in his songs, as well as experiences that leave a lasting impression. Max, who signed in 2023 with the relaunched Blackground Records 2.0 (the iconic record label of the 90s and 2000s founded by Barry and Jomo Hankerson), releases his debut EP, Cosas Que No Olvido, this Friday (May 1). It is a five-track collection that chronicles the story of a relationship, from its inception to its inevitable conclusion. With this project, the singer-songwriter hopes to demonstrate his ability to connect with global audiences through contemporary sounds and a deeply personal narrative, according to a press statement. — S.R.A.
Song for Your Playlist: “Dime”
Name: MXKA
Country: United Stages
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Hailing from Oakland, California, MXKA (pronounced “MO-ka”) sings R&B tumbados for those in love. With sultry, emotive vocals and lyrics steeped in heartbreak and self-reflection, the Blaxicana artist, as she identifies herself, is boosting regional Mexican influences with her smooth, melodic flow. Raised between cultures as the child of a Mexico City-born mother and a Black American father from Louisiana, MXKA crafts genre-bending songs exploring love, desire, and self-worth.
The Bay Area artist grabbed our attention with a string of 2026 singles released via Empire, including “La Vuelta,” “Cómo Te Va?” and the hauntingly beautiful, “Fantasmas.” Steeped in the lingering echoes of lost love, “Fantasmas” showcases her ability to marry romantic and esoteric-leaning storytelling with an acoustic sound that feels intimate and universal — a balm for anyone who has loved and lost. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Song For Your Playlist: “Fantasmas”
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