In pre-election campaign and with the kings of Spain in the square of the same name, last night Barcelona breathed peace

The Queen of Spain, Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, wore a black evening gown designed by Spanish fashion house Sybilla during the ceremony for the 75th edition of the Planeta Prize in Barcelona on October 15, 2026. This particular design had previously been worn by actress Juana Acosta during the Malaga Film Festival several months earlier. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia presented the award to Chilean writer Isabel Allende, who won the prize with the second part of La casa de los espíritus, titled La hora antes del alba. The ceremony took place at the Fira de Barcelona, moving from its usual venue at the MNAC to accommodate the larger crowd. The event was marked by a sense of calm, according to a police officer from the Mossos d'Esquadra, who noted the absence of large gatherings or demonstrations compared to previous years. The award was given to Allende for her work, which continues the story of Alba, the granddaughter of the patriarch Esteban Trueba, who returns to her family home pregnant after being imprisoned and tortured under the Chilean dictatorship. Allende expressed her surprise at winning the prize, stating she did not expect to win and was moved by the standing ovation from the audience. She emphasized the relevance of her themes today, noting the threat to democracies around the world, echoing her own experience fleeing Chile after the military coup in 1973. Her win marks a shift in publishing houses, as she moves from Penguin Random House to Planeta, adding another accolade to her already extensive list of awards. Sergio Hernández, a Valencian philologist and screenwriter, was named a finalist with his book La añoranza, which explores a plot to assassinate poet Antonio Machado. He described the award as a significant milestone, having grown up with the prize through his father's bookstore. The ceremony was attended by notable figures such as politicians, writers, and cultural leaders, including Minister of Culture Ernest Urtasun, President of Catalonia Salvador Illa, and others. The event coincided with the 75th anniversary of the Planeta group, which has played a crucial role in enriching Spain’s cultural landscape and giving international exposure to Spanish literature. The prize remains the most lucrative in the Spanish-speaking world, though it faces competition this year from the AENA Narrative Award, which offers a substantial sum for published works rather than unpublished manuscripts. During the ceremony, the royal couple was joined by José Crehueras, president of Planeta, and other prominent literary figures such as Javier Sierra, Carmen Posadas, and Luz Gabás, members of the jury. Other attendees included authors like Dolores Redondo, whose new thriller Todas las noches, todas las ciudades will be released soon, and Núria Gago, who is working on her next book. Actress and presenter Sonsoles Onega, known for her television series based on her novel Las hijas de la criada, praised the adaptation for its Galician accent and attention to detail. Meanwhile, Sandra Barneda, who was a finalist in 2020, celebrated her recent wedding to Dutch entrepreneur Pascalle Paerel, drawing attention for their romantic display at the event. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the award to Allende, marking a significant moment in Spanish literature and highlighting the continued influence of the Planeta Prize in recognizing outstanding contributions to the written word.