The Premios Soberano honors the entire spectrum of the arts under one roof and is held at the regal stage of the Carlos Piantini Hall of the National Theater. Consider it the US award ceremonies Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony in a single high-stakes gala that enables people to catch up on the entertainment performers in the Dominican Republic. The event is televised on Color Vision Channel 9 and Univisión/Vix for the United States audiences.
The gala, organized by the Association of Art Chroniclers (Acroarte), is scheduled for Wednesday, 18 March 2026 at the Carlos Piantini Hall of the Eduardo Brito National Theater, with the red carpet beginning at 7pm followed by the main ceremony at 9pm.
The 2026 event will be produced for the third consecutive year by César Suárez Jr., with sponsorship from Cervecería Nacional Dominicana and Banreservas. Acroarte has confirmed that the main gala will be hosted by the seasoned duo of Irving Alberti and Georgina Duluc. The script this year is by Aidita Selman and Juan Manuel Tejeda.
The “Red Gala” (Alfombra Roja) will feature a high-energy team led by Venezuelan Manuel Federico Fraíz-Grijalba with Amara La Negra, Josell Hernández, Karen Yapoort, and Sophía Sanabria. Additionally, high-profile figures such as Nashla Bogaert, Carlos Sánchez, and Juan Carlos Pichardo have been tapped as category presenters.
Artistic highlights and recognition
Last minute media reports say that singer Maridalia Hernandez will be on the stage. It is not clear if she will sing, host or present. She was the first woman to win the Soberano in 1987.
The 2026 musical lineup features a career-spanning performance by “The Queen of Merengue,” Milly Quezada, and an international performance by Colombian singer Fonseca and Puerto Ricans Elvis Crespo and Jerry Rivera. Others with performances that evening will be merengue singers Toño Rosario and Martha Heredia, balladist Pavel Núñez, Christian music singer Barak, and urban genre singers Dalvin La Melodía, Donaty y Jezzy, Shadow Blow, La Perversa and Crazy Design.
Special recognition this year includes the Premio a las Artes Escénicas (Performing Arts Award), which will be bestowed upon veteran theater artist Carlota Carretero for her lifelong contribution to the stage.
The 2026 Nominees: Key categories
The nominations, finalized after intensive deliberation across film, classical arts, popular music, and communications, highlight standout performances of 2025:
• Merengue and Urban Heartbeat: Veteran performers Eddy Herrera, Miriam Cruz, Jandy Ventura, and Los Hermanos Rosario are vying for Merenguero of the Year. The Album of the Year category features a diverse range, from Infinito positivo (Los Hermanos Rosario) to Puñito de Yocahú (Vicente García). In the urban sphere, competition is fierce between Don Miguelo, Yailin, La Perversa, La Insuperable, and Shadow Blow.
• Film Industry Growth: The Best Director category is led by Tito Rodríguez (La Grande), Leticia Tonos (Aire), and Gabriella Moses (Boca Chica). Global reach is emphasized in the Outstanding Artist Abroad category, featuring Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez), Jharrel Jerome (Indetenible), Elvis Nolasco, and Dascha Polanco.
• Evolving Media Landscape: The YouTuber of the Year category includes heavyweights Santiago Matías, Luinny Corporán, and Dotol Nastra. In digital media, the Podcast of the Year features Luz García el Podcast, Abriendo el Podcast, and Azul Podcast. Traditional media remains competitive, with Jochy Santos, Milagros Germán, and Pamela Sued continuing to dominate the presenter categories.
The public gets to vote
Much like the US’s Academy Awards, the Alfombra Roja is a massive fashion event where local designers and celebrities debut their most ambitious looks. Through the Soberano del Público, the ceremony incorporates a democratic element similar to the People’s Choice Awards, allowing the diaspora and local fans to influence the results via online voting. The “Soberano del Público” opened for voting on 13 March, allowing the public to vote for their favorites via the official web portal.
Global broadcasting
Reflecting its growing reach, the ceremony will be broadcast live nationwide on Color Visión (Channel 9) with the red carpet starting at 7pm and the actual Premio Soberano airing at 9pm. International audiences can view the event via Univision (available in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Puerto Rico) and the ViX streaming platform.
18 March 2026