Everything is ready in the Principality for the ceremony of presenting the Princess of Asturias Awards 2026. While the first laureates have already begun arriving in Oviedo, the region is developing an intense agenda that will include among its highlights performances by Patti Smith, a meeting with Leo Messi, or the screening of a cycle of Studio Ghibli films. But, as happens every year, beyond the awardees, all eyes will be on the arrival of our Royal Family.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will arrive in Asturias on Thursday, October 22, accompanied by their daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, who will have to be away from their respective university studies for a few days. The four will attend that same day the traditional concert held at the Prince Felipe Auditorium in Oviedo. On this occasion, the musical evening will be dedicated to the figure of the composer Felix Mendelssohn and will be led by the Symphony Orchestra of the Principality of Asturias and the Foundation Choir.
The royal schedule for Friday, October 23, will begin at 11:20 a.m. with the audience of Leonor and Sofía with the laureates of the 2025 Fin de Grado Awards of the University of Oviedo. Twenty minutes later, and now together with their parents, the heir to the throne and her sister will have another audience with the laureates of the Asturias Medals, Favored Sons and Adopted Sons 2026.
The most notable moment of the day will come next. If in the previous edition of the awards Felipe VI announced that he would be ceding the spotlight to his eldest daughter, this year Princess Leonor will put those words into practice by making her solo debut at the reception for the laureates of the Princess of Asturias Awards 2026. This gathering will take place on Friday at noon, in the Covadonga Hall of the Reconquista Hotel in Oviedo. Leonor will present them with a commemorative pin and will pose with them for a group photograph.
Cuándo y dónde se celebran los Premios Princesa de Asturias 2026
The presentation of the Princess of Asturias Awards 2026 will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, October 23, at the Campoamor Theater in Oviedo, under the presidency of the kings and with the presence of Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía. These prestigious awards carry a monetary endowment of 50,000 euros, an accreditation diploma, a badge, and a reproduction of a sculpture by Joan Miró.
Only once have the awards been presented away from this emblematic building of the Asturian capital. It was in 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic, when an audience-free ceremony was held in the Covadonga Hall of the Reconquista Hotel, also in the Asturian capital.
The Royal Family at the Princess of Asturias Awards 2025.
Where to watch the Princess of Asturias Awards 2026
TVE’s La 1 will modify its usual afternoon schedule to broadcast in full and free-to-air the entire ceremony held at the Campoamor Theater in Oviedo from 6:30 p.m. The 24 Horas Channel will also offer the simultaneous broadcast of the event, and from RTVE Play you will be able to watch the gala live from any device. Likewise, the FPA Foundation itself will share the live signal on its YouTube channel, while RTPA (Televisión del Principado de Asturias) will focus its usual programming on the awards ceremony and will broadcast the signal live for the entire region.
Who are the winners of the Princess of Asturias Awards 2026
The eight laureates in 2026 with the Princess of Asturias Awards are American singer Patti Smith (Arts); the legendary Studio Ghibli (Communication and Humanities); Argentine footballer Leo Messi (Sports); British historian Timothy Garton Ash (Social Sciences); British writer Julian Barnes (Literature); NASA astronaut Christina Koch (Concordia); the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (International Cooperation) and scientists David Klenerman, Shankar Balasubramanian and Pascal Mayer (Scientific and Technical Research) for revolutionizing DNA sequencing.
The Kings of Spain and their Daughters visiting Valdesoto in 2025.
Entrega del Pueblo Ejemplar de Asturias 2026
As is traditional, the last day of the Royal Family’s schedule will be devoted to visiting the town awarded the Award for the Exemplary Town of Asturias 2026. On this occasion, the Kings of Spain and their daughters will travel on Saturday, October 24 to the Santa Ana Fishermen’s Guild, in Llanes, recognized for its work in sustainability, innovation, solidarity, study, and the dissemination of fishing culture. It is planned that Princess Leonor will say a few words there.
