The Princess of Asturias Foundation is a non-profit private institution whose essential aims are to contribute to extolling and promoting those scientific, cultural and humanistic values that form part of the universal heritage of humanity and to consolidate the existing links between the Principality of Asturias and the title traditionally held by the heirs to the Crown of Spain.
His Majesty King Felipe VI was Honorary President of the Foundation since its creation in 1980 until his proclamation as King of Spain on 19th June 2014, following which Her Royal Highness Leonor de Borbón y Ortiz, Princess of Asturias, became the Honorary President of this institution which annually convenes the Princess of Asturias Awards.
Aimed at rewarding the scientific, technical, cultural, social and humanitarian work carried out at an international level by individuals, institutions or groups of individuals or institutions, these awards are granted in eight categories: the Arts, Communication and Humanities, Concord, International Cooperation, Literature, Social Sciences, Sports, and Technical and Scientific Research.
The Awards are presented at a solemn ceremony held each year at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo.
The Princess of Asturias Foundation issues a public call for nominations for the 2026 Princess of Asturias Awards, which shall be governed by the following Regulations approved by its Board of Trustees.
The Princess of Asturias Foundation convenes the Princess of Asturias Awards.
The Princess of Asturias Awards are to be conferred on those individuals and/or institutions that, through their work and merits in scientific, technical, cultural, social and humanitarian fields, contribute to progress and social well-being in an extraordinary and exemplary way.
Furthermore, the repercussions of this work should always be considered in the broadest sense; that is, its contribution to the field should be of international scope and/or be acknowledged at an international level, be longstanding and hence indisputably appropriate.
- Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts: aimed at recognizing the work of fostering, cultivating and advancing architecture, dance, film-making, music, painting, photography, sculpture, theatre or any other form of artistic expression.
- Princess of Asturias Award for Social Sciences: aimed at recognizing creative and/or research work in the field of anthropology, demography, economics, ethics, geography, history, law, linguistics, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology or teaching, as well as in the disciplines corresponding to each of these fields.
- Princess of Asturias Award for Communication and Humanities: aimed at recognizing the work of fostering and advancing the sciences and disciplines considered humanistic activities or any activity related to social communication in any of its forms.
- Princess of Asturias Award for Concord: aimed at recognizing the work of defending and advancing respect for human dignity and rights, as well as promoting and protecting peace, freedom, solidarity, world heritage and, in general, the progress of humanity.
- Princess of Asturias Award for International Cooperation: aimed at recognizing individual or collective work, in cooperation with another or others, to develop and promote public health, universal education, the protection and defence of the environment, as well as the economic, cultural and social advancement of all peoples.
- Princess of Asturias Award for Sports: aimed at careers which have become an example of the benefits that practising sports can bring to people, via their promotion, fostering and advancement of sport and sense of solidarity and commitment.
- Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research: aimed at recognizing the work of fostering and advancing research, discovery and/or invention in the field of astronomy and astrophysics, chemistry, earth and space sciences, life sciences, mathematics, medical sciences, physics or technological sciences, including those disciplines corresponding to each of these fields as well as their related technologies.
- Princess of Asturias Award for Literature: aimed at recognizing the work of fostering and advancing literary creation in all its genres.
Each Princess of Asturias Award is endowed with:
- a Joan Miró sculpture, symbolizing the Princess of Asturias Awards;
- a diploma of accreditation;
- an insignia;
- €50 000, amount to be equally divided among the Laureates when the award is shared.
Submission of nominations
Nominations may be submitted by:
- Laureates from previous years;
- members of the eight Juries, duly convened each year, provided they do not present nominations for the award in the category corresponding to the Jury of which they are a member;
- diplomatic missions of Spain abroad;
- diplomatic missions in Spain;
- renowned public figures and institutions;
- other public figures and institutions invited to do so by the Princess of Asturias Foundation.
Acceptance of nominations
The following candidatures shall not be accepted in any case whatsoever:
- posthumous nominations;
- heads of state and/or heads of governments, or those who hold office as head of state or government, whether Spanish or foreign;
- high-ranking institutions of the Spanish State, their members or senior officials of the Spanish Government;
- Trustees of the Princess of Asturias Foundation at the time of the nomination, or those who have been Trustees within three years immediately prior to the nomination;
- Jury members or those who have been a member of any Princess of Asturias Award Jury within three years immediately prior to the nomination;
- individuals, organizations or institutions who apply for the award on their own behalf or on behalf of the organizations they represent.
In each and every case, the decision as to whether nominations comply or not with the requirements established in these Regulations, and hence the suitability of the candidatures, ultimately lies with the Princess of Asturias Foundation. Said decision is not open to appeal.
Submission procedure
The submission of the nomination entails filling out the official form available on the Princess of Asturias Foundation website (www.fpa.es/en), after applying for a username and password:
The official nomination form may be accompanied by as many documents, bibliographical references and/or audio-visual material as desired aimed at accrediting the merits of the proposed candidature.
The nomination may be submitted via the following channels:
- the Foundation’s online platform.
- email: fpa@fpa.es
- the following postal address: c/ Plácido Arango Arias, 2, 33004 - Oviedo, Principado de Asturias, Spain
Statements of support or endorsements deemed appropriate may also be sent by email to apoyos@fpa.es, indicating the name of the candidature in the subject line.
Deadlines
- The deadline for submitting nominations is Thursday 5th March 2026 (up until 11:59pm Spanish time, GMT+1).
- The deadline for submitting endorsements is 26th March 2026 (up until 11:59pm Spanish time, GMT+1).
- Laureates from previous years and/or Jury members may submit nominations and/or endorsements up until 6 calendar days before the date of convening the Jury corresponding to the category for which they are submitted. Said date will be announced on the Foundation’s website (http://www.fpa.es/en).
Within 10 business days of receiving the nomination, the Foundation will send an acknowledgment of receipt of the submitted documentation to the email address provided on the official form by the person who put forward said candidature.
The Princess of Asturias Foundation does not enter into any form of correspondence whatsoever regarding the documentation it receives, nor is this returned.
The Princess of Asturias Awards Ceremony is held in Oviedo (Principality of Asturias, Spain) in the month of October.
Upon accepting the Award, Laureates will undertake to participate in the activities and events organized by the Foundation on the days immediately prior to and following the Awards Ceremony.
Laureates who do not attend the Awards Ceremony will only receive the diploma of accreditation.
Appointment and Constitution
The Juries, one for each category, are appointed annually by the Princess of Asturias Foundation in accordance with the criteria approved by its Board of Trustees.
Each jury shall have a chairperson and an acting secretary. Both shall be appointed by the Princess of Asturias Foundation and shall have voice and vote.
The chair will organize and channel the Jury’s deliberations and voting. The acting secretary will ensure compliance with the Regulations.
The Jury will hold its meetings over two consecutive days. The decision conferring the Award shall be announced via the public reading of the Minutes of the Jury on the second day set for these meetings, This will normally be done by the chair.
Code of Conduct
Juries are subject to the Princess of Asturias Foundation’s Code of Conduct, which expresses the institution’s commitment to ethical conduct in all matters related to its activities.
Deliberations
To participate in the voting, Jury members must be present at all deliberative meetings, from the time deliberations commence through to the final vote.
The list of nominations submitted to any of the Princess of Asturias Awards and the deliberations of the Jury members are secret.
Jury members shall proceed freely, fairly and rigorously at all times.
The act of voting cannot be delegated.
Submitted nominations cannot be modified in any way whatsoever.
Voting shall always be in favour of one nomination or another and should foster the successive and ongoing election of candidatures preferred by the majority of the Jury.
The Award is to be bestowed by majority vote on one single candidature. The chair will have the casting vote in the case of a tie.