The relaunch of Playboy [IG] magazine as a high-end print quarterly features Colombian superstar Karol G as its Spring 2026 cover star. Photographed by Gray Sorrenti [IG], this relaunch issue marks a significant shift in the brand's creative direction under new editor-in-chief Phillip Picardi. It will hit newsstands on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.

Karol G is interviewed by Paola Ramos, with emphasis her special moment tonight, as the first Latina headliner at the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, known as Coachella.

With her beloved Colombia heritage in her heart, Karol G will have the last word, closing out part 2 of the festival next Sunday, April 19. Katie Grand styles the lingerie-inspired, Playboy shoot, with creative direction by Marie Suter./ Makeup by Jamal Scott; hair by Recine

Karol G on Working with Playboy

"When I woke up on January 1st, 2026, I told myself: I choose myself. I choose my power," Karol G tells Ramos. Inside, the global superstar opens up about finding her "inner wild woman" and stepping fully into who she is today, asking a key question:

"At the end of the day, what's my role if I'm in this position?"

Initially unclear about even doing the Playboy photoshoot, she sought guidance from Sofia Vergara, who encouraged her take the plunge, simply because she wanted to do it.

Karol G at the Vatican

Last year, Karol G was the sole Latina performer at The Vatican: “Grace for the World” public concert. The spectacular and free event co-produced by Andrea Bocelli and Pharrell Williams was the first public concert at the location in 2,000 years. The event closed out the World Meeting on Human Fraternity.

Karol G is planning a tour in the second half of 2026. It will celebrate her “Tropicoqueta” Era. This new direction marks a shift from her previous heartbreak-to-healing narrative into a celebratory, sophisticated concept that merges "Latina playfulness" with the diverse rhythms of the Caribbean.

Karol G on Working on Tropicoqueta

For her Tropicoqueta era, Karol G has traded digital drum machines for live, organic instrumentation. Her current creative direction centers on a "Pan-Latin" approach, replacing programmed beats with traditional percussion and melodic instruments that celebrate her Colombian heritage and the wider Caribbean.

The Tropicoqueta era is defined by Karol G’s transition from a "reggaetonera" to a global "Pan-Latin" artist. The album serves as a "musical map" of Latin America, with nearly 95% live instrumentation to ensure the sound remains authentic to its roots.