Princess of Asturias Awards 2026 in Oviedo
The Princess of Asturias Awards 2026 will be presented on Friday, 23 October 2026 at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo. On this page you can find this year’s laureates and a selection of the 65 Princess of Asturias Awards Week activities, taking place from 14 to 24 October.
If you are travelling to Oviedo for the awards, you can also check how to get to Oviedo, where to stay and where to eat.
What are the Princess of Asturias Awards?
The Princess of Asturias Awards are among Spain’s most prestigious international distinctions. They are presented annually by the Princess of Asturias Foundation to recognise outstanding scientific, technical, cultural, social and humanitarian work carried out by individuals, institutions, working groups or organisations worldwide.
Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo, venue for the awards ceremony
Each award consists of a sculpture created by Joan Miró, a diploma, a badge and a cash prize of €50,000. The awards ceremony is held every autumn at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo and is presided over by Their Majesties the King and Queen and H.R.H. the Princess of Asturias.
Princess of Asturias Awards Week 2026: official programme
On 8 October, the Princess of Asturias Foundation announced the official 2026 Awards Week programme: 65 cultural activities from 14 to 24 October across eight Asturian towns and cities. Concerts, films, exhibitions, workshops and meetings with laureates are planned. Here are selected highlights for visitors to Oviedo. The official calendar also includes visits, workshops and other activities which may require advance registration.
Highlights in Oviedo
- Thursday 15 October, 8:00 pm. Opening of the La Vega Arms Factory cultural venue.
- Thursday 15 October, 9:30 pm. Screening of Studio Ghibli's Porco Rosso. La Vega Arms Factory, Nave Taller.
- Friday 16 October, 8:00 pm. One-Night Choir, a participatory activity associated with Patti Smith. La Vega Arms Factory, Nave Almacén.
- Friday 16 October, 8:00 pm. Screening of Studio Ghibli's Grave of the Fireflies. La Vega Arms Factory, Nave Taller.
- Friday 16 October, 8:00 pm. The Noise of Time, a concert inspired by Julian Barnes. La Vega Arms Factory, Nave Fundiciones.
- Friday 16 October, 9:00 pm. Moonlight Serenade, a concert inspired by Christina Koch. La Vega Arms Factory, Nave Cañones.
- Friday 16 October, 9:30 pm. Concierto lunático, an event dedicated to Christina Koch. La Vega Arms Factory, Nave Almacén.
- Friday 16 October, 10:00 pm. Screening of Studio Ghibli's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. La Vega Arms Factory.
- Saturday 17 October, 10:30 am. My Ghibli Postcard, an activity inspired by Studio Ghibli. La Vega Arms Factory.
- Wednesday 21 October, 7:30 pm. A Story Called Europe, a meeting with Timothy Garton Ash. Historic Building of the University of Oviedo.
- Wednesday 21 October, 7:30 pm. Con-secuencia humana, a meeting with David Klenerman, Shankar Balasubramanian and Pascal Mayer. Check the official programme for the venue.
- Wednesday 21 October, 8:00 pm. Dress rehearsal for the 34th Princess of Asturias Awards Concert. Príncipe Felipe Auditorium. Free tickets must be collected in advance, subject to availability. See the ticket collection details below.
- Wednesday 21 October, 9:30 pm. 50 Years Later, a concert by Patti Smith. La Vega Arms Factory.
- Thursday 22 October, 5:30 pm. Leo Messi meets the educational community at the Palacio de los Deportes in Oviedo. Primarily for children and young people; registration required.
- Thursday 22 October, 5:00 pm. People Have the Power, a choral event dedicated to Patti Smith. Admission subject to invitation and registration.
- Thursday 22 October, 7:00 pm. 34th Princess of Asturias Awards Concert, featuring Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 2, Lobgesang. Príncipe Felipe Auditorium. Admission by invitation.
- Thursday 22 October, 8:00 pm. Screening of Studio Ghibli's Howl's Moving Castle. Check the official programme for the venue and admission conditions.
- Friday 23 October, 6:30 pm. Princess of Asturias Awards 2026 Ceremony. Campoamor Theatre. Admission by invitation. Julian Barnes, Christina Koch, Timothy Garton Ash and Patti Smith are scheduled to give speeches.
- Saturday 24 October, noon. Presentation of the 2026 Exemplary Town of Asturias Award to the Santa Ana Fishermen's Guild (Llanes).
This is a selection, not the full programme. Some events are invitation-only or have restricted admission. Check the conditions for each event before attending.
Laureates’ arrivals and press conferences
The Princess of Asturias Foundation has announced the expected arrival schedule for the 2026 laureates, alongside information about press engagements. Announced arrivals include:
- 18 October, 5:00 pm: Patti Smith is expected to arrive.
- 19 October, 1:30 pm: Christina Koch is expected to arrive.
- 19 October, 4:50 pm: Julian Barnes is expected to arrive.
- 20 October, 5:40 pm: Timothy Garton Ash is expected to arrive.
- 22 October, in the morning: Leo Messi is expected to arrive; no exact time has been announced.
These are scheduled arrivals, not public cultural events. Times may change, and the schedule does not imply public access to arrivals or press conferences. Check the Princess of Asturias Foundation for updates.
Free tickets for the Awards Concert dress rehearsal
The dress rehearsal for the 34th Princess of Asturias Awards Concert will take place on Wednesday 21 October 2026 at 8:00 pm at the Príncipe Felipe Auditorium in Oviedo.
The Foundation has announced that 1,200 free tickets will be distributed on Saturday 17 October at the Príncipe Felipe Auditorium box office, from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, while supplies last. There is a limit of two tickets per person.
This is an in-person ticket collection arrangement, separate from the online registration process for other Awards Week activities. Check the Princess of Asturias Foundation for any last-minute changes.
Tickets and registration
The cultural programme includes free events, but many require advance registration. The Foundation has announced three registration phases, each opening at 10:00 am local time through a virtual queue:
- 10 October (registration already open): events from 15 to 18 October, plus Patti Smith's 20 October concert in Gijón.
- 17 October: events from 19 to 24 October (excluding the Messi meeting), plus Patti Smith's 21 October concert in Oviedo.
- 18 October: registration for the 22 October meeting with Leo Messi.
The application period for invitations to the official Awards Concert and the awards ceremony has already closed. For other activities, reservations are made through the official ticketing platform. The Foundation generally limits bookings to two tickets per person per event (four for family activities); walk-in visits have separate conditions. See the frequently asked questions.
Visiting the La Vega Arms Factory
The permanent installations can be visited with advance registration: 16, 19 and 20 October, 4:00–9:00 pm; 17, 18, 23 and 24 October, 11:00 am–2:00 pm and 4:00–9:00 pm; 21 October, 4:00–8:00 pm; and 22 October, 7:00–9:00 pm. Public access is via Calle Marcelino Fernández. Some areas may be unavailable during scheduled events.
Full programme and registration: see the official 2026 Awards Week calendar and the Foundation's 2026 special website. Confirm times, capacity and admission requirements before travelling. Information updated on 16 October 2026.