After Earning the Most Audience Votes, the 23-Year-Old Dominican Singer Claimed the $100,000 Cash Prize and a Recording Contract with Universal Music Latino and GTS to Kick-Start His Music Career
MIAMI, FL – August 10, 2026 — Operación Triunfo Estados Unidos concluded tonight with the victory of Wandy, who was announced as the winner during the live broadcast on Telemundo. As part of the grand prize, the Dominican singer received a $100,000 cash prize, along with a recording contract with Universal Music Latino and GTS to launch his music career. Karol finished in second place, followed by Lalahin third, Lesliein fourth, and Frankiein fifth, completing the lineup of finalists in a season that introduced a new generation of talented young artists determined to become the next Latin music star. The results were determined by audience vote.
Hosted by Natalia Téllez, the finale featured musical performances by judges David Bisbal, Ana Bárbara, and Ximena Sariñana, as well as the finalists’ last performances of the season.
Wandy, a 23-year-old Dominican singer based in New York, grew up in a humble household in the Dominican Republic, where his grandmother inspired his love for music by taking him to sing in church. After traveling the world as a member of an orchestra, he now directs his church choir while pursuing his dream as an artist. His charisma, personality, and continuous growth made him one of the competition’s most promising talents.
Representing different regions of the United States, Puerto Rico, and several countries across Latin America, Operación Triunfo Estados Unidos began with 20 aspiring artists, each with unique stories, musical influences, and dreams. Of those, 16 earned a place in the Academy to compete for the grand prize. The competition featured a judging panel comprised of David Bisbal, Ana Bárbara, and Ximena Sariñana, while Erika Ender served as Academy Director. Laura Flores was the Performance Coach and Jorge Romano served as Musical Director, alongside other renowned music industry experts.
Fans can relieve Operación Triunfo Estados Unidos through the Telemundo app, available on the Google Play Store and the Apple Store, as well as on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service. The excitement continues on the official YouTube channel, @OperaciónTriunfoEstadosUnidos, with Realities After Dark: Operación Triunfo EEUU Podcast, where participants shared reactions and memorable moments from the competition. Fans can join the conversation on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X through @OperacionTriunfoUSA and @TelemundoRealities, using #OperacionTriunfoUSA.
Operación Triunfo Estados Unidos was under the supervision of Adrián Santucho, Senior Vice President of Non-Scripted Content, alongside executive producers José Luis Romero, Luciano Cardinali and Fernando Lorente.
Operación Triunfo Estados Unidos was selected to receive the CINA incentive (Certificate of Audiovisual Investment), granted by the Colombian government and administered by Proimágenes Colombia, a tax rebate equivalent to 35% of the money spent on audiovisual services in the country.
About Proimágenes Colombia:
Dedicated to the development of the Colombian film industry, Proimágenes Colombia (Fondo Mixto de Promoción Cinematográfica) is a non-profit organization supported by the public and private sectors. It administers the Film Development Fund – FDC, which provides cash resources to national productions and co-productions, and promotes Colombian cinema in the international arena. It also has acts as the Colombian Film Commission which promotes the country as a filming location, channeling incentives to national and international productions with cash refunds and tax incentives for international audiovisual projects.
About NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises:
NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises leads the media industry in the production and distribution of Spanish-language content for U.S. Hispanics and audiences around the world. The company serves U.S. Hispanics through its national broadcast network, the cable network Universo, and digital platforms including the Telemundo app, a suite of FAST channels, and streaming services, such as Peacock, among others. The Telemundo Network offers Spanish-language entertainment, news, and sports content reaching 96% of U.S. Hispanic TV households in 210 markets through 30 owned stations and 94 affiliate stations. Telemundo also owns an independent station serving Puerto Rico. Anchored on Telemundo Studios, the network is the #1 producer of scripted Spanish-language content in the U.S., and the only network to produce original content specifically for US Hispanic audiences. Offering over 600 hours of reality TV shows a year, and top-rated live specials such as the Billboard Latin Music Awards and Miss Universe, Telemundo is considered the undisputed Home of Live TV in Hispanic media. The network is also the exclusive Spanish-language home of the world’s two most popular sporting events, the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games. NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises is a division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
Press contact:
Gerardo Oyola
Director, Alternative Programming Publicity
