The Platino Awards (Premios Platino in Spanish) brought together a star-studded lineup of talent from across Latin America, Spain and Brazil on May 9, 2026 in Mexico’s Riviera Maya for a night celebrating the best in Spanish- and Portuguese-language film and television.
Held inside the Gran Tlachco Theater at Xcaret Park, the ceremony took place in a striking open-air venue surrounded by jungle and designed for large-scale live productions. With its covered roof and immersive setting, the space added a cinematic feel to a night that blended awards, music and performance into a full entertainment experience rather than a traditional ceremony.
‘The Secret Agent’ Dominates the Night
Brazil’s The Secret Agent, directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, emerged as the biggest winner in the film categories, taking seven awards in total. The film won Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay, while also earning recognition in categories such as Music, Editing and Production Design. Brazilian actor Wagner Moura received Best Actor for his performance, further cementing the political thriller as one of the standout titles of the night.
Mendonça Filho was one of the most celebrated figures of the ceremony, collecting multiple awards throughout the evening and paying tribute to his cast and crew during emotional speeches that highlighted the collaborative spirit behind the film.
Set in 1970s Brazil, The Secret Agent follows a man caught in a tense atmosphere of political surveillance and personal escape during the country’s military dictatorship, as he tries to reconnect with his young son while navigating a world of suspicion and danger.
‘The Eternaut’ Steals the Spotlight in Television
On the television side, Argentina ‘s The Eternaut led the series categories and became the most awarded title across the entire ceremony, taking eight awards in total. Ricardo Darín, who was not present at the gala, received Best Actor for his performance, while César Troncoso and Andrea Pietra were recognized in the supporting acting categories for their roles in the series. It also won Best Miniseries or TV Series, Best Creator for Bruno Stagnaro, as well as awards in categories such as Music, Editing, and Visual Effects.
The series, based on a classic Argentine science fiction comic created by Héctor Oesterheld between 1957 and 1959, was celebrated as one of the most ambitious television productions in the region, bringing a landmark piece of Latin American science fiction to a global audience. The story follows a group of survivors of a deadly alien invasion in Buenos Aires, forced to navigate an invisible threat that transforms everyday life into a struggle for survival. Pietra exclusively told Us that the role forced her to “dive deep within herself to confront fear in unknown places.”
Emotional Wins for the Leading Actresses
Spanish actress Blanca Soroa, just 17 years old, earned Best Actress for Los Domingos, in one of the most emotional moments of the night as she reflected on the experience of filming her first major role and the people who supported her throughout the process.
Mexican actress Paulina Gaitán was named Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Series for Las Muertas. Overwhelmed on stage, she celebrated the win with visible emotion. Earlier, on the red carpet, she exclusively told Us: “Serafina Baladro marked my career and I am a different actress after that character. I don’t like comfort, I like challenge, exploring very different characters.”
A Tribute to a Longstanding Career
A major emotional moment of the night came when Argentine actor Guillermo Francella received the Platino de Honor in recognition of his career in film and television. On stage, he reflected on the meaning of his profession, saying that what has sustained him throughout the years is “la pasión,” and adding that “nobody makes it alone,” while thanking the people who have accompanied him throughout his journey in the industry and in his personal life.
A Ceremony Blending Awards, Music and Celebrity Energy
The ceremony was hosted by Colombian actor Carlos Torres and Spanish actress Cayetana Guillén Cuervo, who guided the audience through a fast-paced evening of awards, speeches and live performances.
The show also leaned heavily into music, turning the night into a hybrid between awards ceremony and concert. Performances by Argentine María Becerra, Colombian Camilo and Spanish Manuel Carrasco brought different styles and energy to the stage, adding a festival-like atmosphere to the event.
The night wrapped with live performances as the final guests began to leave the Gran Tlachco Theater, with the Riviera Maya venue slowly emptying after an evening of awards, speeches and music. During the closing moments of the ceremony, the hosts announced that the Platino Awards will return to Madrid next year, continuing their journey between Spain and Mexico in celebration of the best in Ibero-American film and television.
