Ibero-American Audiovisual Industry Gathers for 13th Platino Awards at Xcaret

Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo — The red carpet is about to roll out in one of the most unique settings in the region. On Saturday, May 9, the 13th Platino Awards will take over the Gran Tlachco Theater at Xcaret Park, turning the Riviera Maya into the center of Ibero-American film and television for one night.

These awards are often described as the “Oscars” of the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking world, recognizing the best films and series from across Latin America, Spain, and Portugal. This year’s ceremony will once again bring together top talent from across the industry, with productions from more than a dozen countries competing across an expanded slate of categories.

What makes this event stand out locally is the setting. The Gran Tlachco Theater, inspired by a pre-Hispanic ball court, creates a dramatic open-air backdrop that blends culture, spectacle, and entertainment. The night kicks off with a full-scale red carpet, where actors, directors, influencers, and media from across the Spanish-speaking world arrive in Riviera Maya style—equal parts glamour and tropical heat.

Among the nominees expected to attend are Blanca Soroa, Dolores Fonzi, Guillermo Francella—who will also receive the Platino Honorary Award—Natalia Reyes, and Ubeimar Ríos Gómez. Directors like Kleber Mendonça Filho and Mariana Rondón will also be in attendance, along with actors Juan Minujín and Edgar Ramírez.

The series categories are equally strong this year, with nominees including Griselda Siciliani, Javier Cámara, and Paulina Gaitán, alongside creators behind major productions like El Eternauta and Anatomía de un instante. A newer category recognizing long-running series adds another layer to the awards, reflecting how streaming content continues to reshape the industry.

The ceremony itself will be hosted by Carlos Torres and Cayetana Guillén Cuervo, with a long list of presenters and celebrity guests expected to take the stage throughout the night. The event will be broadcast across roughly 20 television networks in Latin America, Spain, and the United States, as well as streamed online, giving it a global reach well beyond the Riviera Maya.

For the destination, hosting the Platino Awards is about more than a single night of entertainment. It reinforces the Riviera Maya’s growing role as a hub for international events and positions the region as a cultural stage—not just a beach destination.

For visitors and residents, it’s one of those moments where the Riviera Maya shifts gears. For one night, it’s not about cenotes or beach clubs. It’s about cameras, couture, and a global spotlight pointed straight at the Caribbean coast.