For 39 years, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation has presented its annual Hispanic Heritage Awards to honor achievement, cultural pride, and visionary leadership across a range of fields. The awards were established by the White House in 1988 to commemorate the creation of Hispanic Heritage Month and are recognized as “America’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.”
This year, San Antonio’s own Congressman Joaquin Castro received the Public Service Award in recognition of his longstanding commitment to public service and his advocacy for immigrant families and other communities. Castro, who represents San Antonio in Congress, has spoken out on the treatment of immigrants and has advocated for greater oversight and humane treatment of detained families.
Other 2026 recipients included:
• Social Justice Award: Singer-songwriter Mon Laferte
• Music Award: Mexican singer-songwriter, activist, and actress Ximena Sariñana
• Legend Award: Venezuelan singer and musician Oscar D’León
• Inspira Award: Latin GRAMMY-winning, multi-platinum artist Eladio Carrión
• Humanitarian Award: The People of Minnesota
This year marked the first time in the awards’ history that the event was held outside of Washington, D.C. The ceremony took place at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on September 10. Minnesota was selected to receive the Humanitarian Award in recognition of the collective strength, resilience, compassion, and community action of its people.
The evening featured performances by Eladio Carrión, Mon Laferte, Ximena Sariñana, and the legendary Mexican American band Los Tigres del Norte. Comedian and entertainer Anjelah Johnson-Reyes served as host. The full ceremony will be broadcast on the local PBS station, KLRN on Friday, October 2, 2026 at 8 p.m.
To learn more about the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, explore the 2026 awardees, or see a list of past recipients, visit Hispanic Heritage Awards 2026