The Viña del Mar International Song Festival is Latin America's most prominent music festival and song competition, held annually since 1960 at the Quinta Vergara Amphitheater in Viña del Mar, Chile. The 65th edition took place from February 22 to 27, 2026, featuring performers like Gloria Estefan, Pet Shop Boys, Juanes, and Mon Laferte, with the coveted Gaviota (Seagull) trophies awarded to competition winners.
How the Viña del Mar Festival Works
The festival combines competitive song contests with invited artist performances across five or six nights:
- Competitions: Two song competitions run simultaneously: the Folklore Competition (for Latin American folk music) and the International Competition (for popular music of any genre). Each participating country submits one song, performed live by the original artist.
- Jury Scoring: A jury panel of music industry professionals scores each performance nightly on a scale of 1 to 7. The 2026 jury included Sigrid Alegria, Matteo Bocelli, Juan Manuel Astorga, Veronica Villarroel, Pablo Chill-E, Rodrigo Gonzalez, Fatima Bosch, and Milo J. A virtual audience score also contributes to the final result.
- Progression: Performers compete across multiple nights. Scores are averaged to determine finalists, who perform again on the final night.
- Awards: Winners receive the Gaviota de Plata (Silver Seagull) and a cash prize of approximately $33,900 USD. A Best Interpreter award is also given in each competition, with a prize of approximately $11,300 USD. The Gaviota de Oro (Golden Seagull) and Gaviota de Platino (Platinum Seagull) are special honors for career achievement.
The Gaviota de Platino is the highest honor, awarded only to artists with at least 30 years of career trajectory and a deep connection to the festival. Only six artists have received it: Luis Miguel (2012), Isabel Pantoja (2017), Lucho Gatica (2019, posthumous), Los Jaivas (2023), Myriam Hernandez (2025), and Mon Laferte (2026).
The festival audience, known as "El Monstruo" (The Monster), is famous for its demanding nature. Artists must win over the crowd, which can demand Gaviotas by chanting and cheering. The hosts for 2026 were Karen Doggenweiler and Rafael Araneda.
Real-World Example: Viña 2026
The 65th Viña del Mar International Song Festival ran from February 22 to 27, 2026, at the Quinta Vergara Amphitheater. The lineup included Gloria Estefan, Pet Shop Boys, Juanes, Mon Laferte, Jesse and Joy, Paulo Londra, Matteo Bocelli, Bomba Estereo, NMIXX (the first K-pop act at Viña), Pablo Chill-E, Milo J, and Yandel (Symphonic).
In the Folklore Competition, Chile's A los 4 Vientos won with "Valoracion," scoring 6.7 points. Argentina's Campedrinos placed second with 6.4, and Mexico's Majo Cornejo placed third with 6.0. Spain's Maria Pelae won Best Interpreter for "Que Vengan A Por Mi."
In the International Competition, Spain's Antoñito Molina won with "Me Prometo," scoring 6.5 points. Chile's Sondelvalle placed second with 6.4, and Estonia's Vanilla Ninja placed third with 6.0. Dominican Republic's Johnny Sky won Best Interpreter for "Call On Me."
Mon Laferte received the Gaviota de Platino on the fifth night, becoming the sixth artist to earn the honor. Her performance was widely praised as the most emotional show of the festival, featuring guest appearances by Javiera Electra and Akriila. She also received Gaviotas de Plata and Oro during her set.
The festival was broadcast live on Mega (Chile), Disney+ (Latin America), TV Azteca Guatemala, and RTVD 4 (Dominican Republic).
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
The Viña del Mar Festival is one of the few major music events where independent artists can compete directly alongside established stars. The song competitions are open to artists from any participating country, and the jury evaluates live performance quality, not commercial success or label backing.
Winning the Folklore or International competition comes with a cash prize of approximately $33,900 USD and the Gaviota de Plata, which carries enormous prestige in Latin music. The Best Interpreter award offers an additional $11,300 USD. These prizes can fund album production, touring, or marketing for independent artists.
The festival's massive broadcast reach across Latin America through Mega and Disney+ provides exposure that would be difficult to achieve independently. A strong performance at Viña can launch a career across the Spanish-speaking world.
If you are an independent Latin American artist, investigate your country's selection process for the Folklore or International competition. Build live performance skills, as the jury and audience evaluate stage presence alongside musical quality. Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to track how festival exposure impacts your streaming numbers. Check the festival website for competition rules and entry deadlines.
Award Categories Explained
The Viña del Mar International Song Festival features two competitive song categories plus special honors. Here are the main awards:
Competitive Categories:
- Gaviota de Plata (Silver Seagull) - Folklore Competition: Awarded to the best folk music song in the Latin American Folklore Competition. Each participating country submits one song performed live by the original artist. The winner receives approximately $33,900 USD.
- Gaviota de Plata (Silver Seagull) - International Competition: Awarded to the best popular music song in the International Competition, open to any genre. The winner receives approximately $33,900 USD.
- Best Interpreter - Folklore: Awarded to the best live performer in the Folklore Competition, regardless of song placement. The winner receives approximately $11,300 USD.
- Best Interpreter - International: Awarded to the best live performer in the International Competition. The winner receives approximately $11,300 USD.
Special Honors:
- Gaviota de Oro (Golden Seagull): Awarded to invited (non-competing) artists who deliver exceptional performances that win over the festival audience ("El Monstruo"). The audience demands this honor by chanting and cheering.
- Gaviota de Platino (Platinum Seagull): The highest honor, awarded only to artists with at least 30 years of career trajectory and a deep connection to the festival. The trophy is constructed with chrome and rhodium, featuring 85 Swarovski crystals. Only six artists have received it: Luis Miguel (2012), Isabel Pantoja (2017), Lucho Gatica (2019, posthumous), Los Jaivas (2023), Myriam Hernandez (2025), and Mon Laferte (2026).
Eligibility and Submission Information
The Viña del Mar Festival competitions are not open to direct public submission. Each participating country selects its representative through its own national selection process. The festival organization invites countries to participate, and each country's broadcaster or music industry body chooses the song and artist to represent them.
For the Folklore Competition, participating countries submit songs rooted in Latin American folk music traditions. For the International Competition, songs can be of any popular music genre. Each song must be original and performed live by the original artist at the Quinta Vergara Amphitheater.
The jury scores each performance nightly on a scale of 1 to 7. Scores are averaged across multiple nights to determine finalists, who perform again on the final night. A virtual audience score also contributes to the final result.
Artists interested in competing should contact their country's broadcaster or music industry association to inquire about the national selection process. The festival typically runs for five or six nights in late February at the Quinta Vergara Amphitheater. Check the festival website for competition rules, participating countries, and entry deadlines.
Notable Past Winners
2026 Winners (65th Edition, Quinta Vergara)
| Category | Winner | Song | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaviota de Plata (Folklore) | A los 4 Vientos (Chile) | Valoracion | 6.7 |
| Gaviota de Plata (International) | Antonito Molina (Spain) | Me Prometo | 6.5 |
| Best Interpreter (Folklore) | Maria Pelae (Spain) | Que Vengan A Por Mi | - |
| Best Interpreter (International) | Johnny Sky (Dominican Republic) | Call On Me | - |
| Gaviota de Platino | Mon Laferte | - | - |
2025 Winners (64th Edition, Quinta Vergara)
| Category | Winner | Song | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaviota de Plata (Folklore) | Metalengua (Chile) | La baba del sol | - |
| Best Interpreter (Folklore) | Las Damas de Oro (Ecuador) | Canto de mi tierra | - |
| Gaviota de Plata (International) | Kakalo (Mexico) | Tierra trágame | - |
| Gaviota de Platino | Myriam Hernandez | - | - |
2024 Winners (63rd Edition, Quinta Vergara)
| Category | Winner | Song | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaviota de Plata (Folklore) | Ahyre (Argentina) | La Luna | 5.8 |
| Gaviota de Plata (International) | Eddy Valenzuela (Mexico) | El maestro | 6.3 |
Ceremony Highlights and Performances
The Viña del Mar Festival is broadcast live on Mega (Chile) and Disney+ (Latin America). The festival's live YouTube stream consistently ranks among the top live broadcasts globally during the event. The 2026 fifth night reached 2.78 million viewers during Mon Laferte's performance, the highest peak in the festival's modern measurement history.
The 2026 edition ran from February 22 to 27 at the Quinta Vergara Amphitheater. The lineup included Gloria Estefan, Pet Shop Boys, Juanes, Mon Laferte, Jesse and Joy, Paulo Londra, Matteo Bocelli, Bomba Estereo, NMIXX (the first K-pop act at Viña), Pablo Chill-E, Milo J, and Yandel (Symphonic). Mon Laferte received the Gaviota de Platino on the fifth night, becoming the sixth artist to earn the honor. Her performance featured guest appearances by Javiera Electra and Akriila. She also received Gaviotas de Plata and Oro during her set.
In the Folklore Competition, Chile's A los 4 Vientos won with "Valoracion" at 6.7 points. Argentina's Campedrinos placed second with 6.4, and Mexico's Majo Cornejo placed third with 6.0. Spain's Maria Pelae won Best Interpreter for "Que Vengan A Por Mi." In the International Competition, Spain's Antonito Molina won with "Me Prometo" at 6.5 points. Chile's Sondelvalle placed second with 6.4, and Estonia's Vanilla Ninja placed third with 6.0. Dominican Republic's Johnny Sky won Best Interpreter for "Call On Me."
The 2025 edition saw Myriam Hernandez receive the Gaviota de Platino, becoming the fifth artist and first woman to earn the honor. Her performance included a duet with pianist Valentin Trujillo on "Se me fue," which left audience members in tears. Her children joined her on stage after the Platinum Seagull was awarded. In the Folklore Competition, Chile's Metalengua won Best Song with "La baba del sol" after a tie with Bolivia's Tupay, broken by jury president Claudio Narea's vote. Ecuador's Las Damas de Oro won Best Interpreter. Mexico's Kakalo won the International Competition with "Tierra trágame."
Related Awards
- LOS40 Music Awards - Spain's major music awards recognizing national, international, and Latin artists
- Mirchi Music Awards - India's premier music awards for Hindi film and indie music
Related Resources
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Track streaming performance after festival exposure
- Target Streams Calculator - Set streaming goals for your Latin American audience
- 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income - Build revenue alongside festival competition strategy
- When and How to Hire a Music Manager - A manager can help coordinate festival competition entries
- Performance Rights Organizations - Latin American PROs like SCD (Chile) and SACM collect royalties for performing artists
