Andy García, the acclaimed actor known for his roles in “The Godfather III” and “Ocean’s Eleven,” served as the esteemed host for the 25th Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony held at the historic Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid. (Photo: Barcex)
The Imagen Award for Championing the Arts and Latino Communities Goes to L.A. County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis
LOS ANGELES — Hollywood icon Andy Garcia will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 41st Annual Imagen Awards, recognizing a career that transpired Latino representation in entertainment for more than four decades.
The Imagen Foundation announced this year’s nominees on July 16, with Apple TV+’s Acapulco leading the field with 13 nominations. The annual awards ceremony will take place on Friday, August 21, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where 25 competitive awards and three special achievement honors will be presented.
For the Imagen Foundation, Garcia’s recognition represents more than a celebration of an accomplished actor—it honors an artist whose career has consistently elevated authentic Latino storytelling both in front of and behind the camera.
“Andy Garcia represents the very best of what the Imagen Foundation has sought to celebrate for more than four decades,” said Imagen Foundation Founder and President Helen Hernandez. “From hosting the fourth annual Imagen Awards in 1989 to building a remarkable body of work as an actor, filmmaker and producer, Andy has remained committed to his craft, his community and creating opportunities for Latino talent.”
Hernandez also pointed to Garcia’s recent international acclaim, noting the nine-minute standing ovation his latest film, Diamond, received at the Cannes Film Festival as evidence of the worldwide respect he continues to command.
Hilda L. Solis Recognized for Decades of Public Service
Also receiving one of the evening’s highest honors is Los Angeles County Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, who will be presented with the President’s Award for her distinguished public service and unwavering commitment to expanding access to the arts while advocating for Latino communities throughout Los Angeles County.
For many in Hollywood and the broader Latino community, Solis has long been recognized as a steadfast ally. Throughout her career—from the California Legislature and the U.S. Congress to serving as U.S. Secretary of Labor and now as Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors—Solis has consistently supported arts organizations, cultural institutions and initiatives that create greater opportunities for Latino artists, filmmakers and underserved communities.
A lifelong resident of the San Gabriel Valley and the daughter of immigrants from Nicaragua and Mexico, Solis has built a career centered on expanding opportunity, equity and access. Today she represents Los Angeles County’s First District, stretching from East Hollywood to Pomona, while continuing to champion cultural programming and investment in the creative economy.
Acapulco Leads the Nominees
Apple TV+’s beloved bilingual comedy Acapulco emerged as the leading nominee with 13 nominations, including Best Comedy Series, while earning recognition across directing, acting and supporting performance categories.
The series will also receive the Creative Achievement Award, honoring Apple TV+, creators Austin Winsberg and Eugenio Derbez, and showrunner Sam Laybourne for creating one of television’s most successful Latino-led productions featuring a predominantly Latino cast and crew.
“They are a shining example of how a network and creative team can create a bilingual series centered on Latino-led stories and characters that can drive crossover audience appeal,” Hernandez said.
Other productions receiving multiple nominations include Hazbin Hotel, Belén, Hacks, Stick, The Lincoln Lawyer, The Morning Show, The Night Manager, Twisted Metal and Will Trent.
Among this year’s acting nominees are America Ferrera, Zoe Saldaña, Melissa Barrera, Selena Gomez, Stephanie Beatriz, Eugenio Derbez, Ramón Rodríguez, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and Wilmer Valderrama.
A Continued Call for Greater Representation
While celebrating this year’s nominees, Hernandez also issued a challenge to the entertainment industry regarding the continued underrepresentation of Latinos on screen and behind the camera.
“This year’s nominees reflect the extraordinary diversity of Latino talent across television, documentaries, independent productions, digital media and music,” Hernandez said. “However, we cannot ignore the continued lack of Latino representation in media and the fact that we are unable to present awards in the film categories Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting due to a lack of submissions.”
She added that overlooking Latino audiences carries economic consequences for the industry.
“As a business, Latinos are a $3 trillion audience, and by overlooking the value of our community, it directly affects the economic health and longevity of the entertainment industry.”
Now in its 41st year, the Imagen Awards continue to recognize excellence in film, television, documentaries, music, podcasts and digital media while advocating for authentic Latino representation across the entertainment landscape.
The complete list of nominees is available through the Imagen Foundation. The 41st Annual Imagen Awards will be presented on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. PURCHASE TICKETS
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