Catalan author Cristina Fernandez Cubas wins 2026 Cervantes Prize

Catalan writer Cristina Fernandez Cubas was named the winner of the 2026 Cervantes Prize on Tuesday, Euronews reported. The award is the highest honor in Spanish language literature and carries a cash prize of 125,000 euros. The decision was announced by the Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun. [1]

Euronews reported that Fernandez Cubas is the seventh woman to receive the prestigious award. The jury highlighted the originality and excellence of her work, noting her role in renewing the contemporary short story and transforming Spanish language fantasy fiction. [1]

The Miguel de Cervantes Prize is awarded annually to honor the lifetime achievement of an outstanding writer in the Spanish language. It is considered the most prestigious and remunerative award given for Spanish language literature. [5]

The award follows other major global literary distinctions announced recently. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Canadian poet and translator Anne Carson was awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature in October, while Harare based writer Simbarashe Steyn Kundizeza won the 2026 Caine Prize for African Writing. [7][8]