Celebrating a new generation of leaders driving innovation, creativity, and social impact: Premios Princesa de Girona 2026

On 14 July 2026, the Premios Princesa de Girona 2026 brought together Spain’s leading institutions, innovators, and changemakers at Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu to celebrate a new generation of young leaders whose work is advancing society through creativity, scientific research, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement.

Presided over by Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, together with Her Royal Highness The Princess of Asturias and Princess of Girona, Leonor, and Infanta Sofía, the ceremony reaffirmed the Fundación Princesa de Girona’s commitment to identifying, recognizing, and supporting young individuals whose achievements demonstrate exceptional leadership and a measurable capacity to generate positive social impact.

Since their establishment, the Premios Princesa de Girona have become one of Spain’s foremost distinctions for emerging talent. Each year, the Fundación honours outstanding individuals across six categories: Arts, Business Creation, Research, Social, International Business Creation, and International Research, recognising projects that combine excellence, innovation, and public benefit. Beyond celebrating individual accomplishment, the awards foster an interdisciplinary community of leaders whose work contributes to addressing contemporary societal challenges through knowledge, collaboration, and creativity.

The 2026 edition was presented under the theme “Shared Talent”, reflecting the conviction that talent reaches its fullest potential when knowledge, opportunities, and experience are collectively cultivated. Through a programme combining artistic performances, choreography, music, and personal testimonies, the ceremony explored collaboration as a catalyst for innovation and social transformation.

This year’s laureates exemplify the diversity of disciplines through which meaningful change can be achieved: filmmaker Gemma Blasco; astrophysicist Rafael Luque; biotechnology entrepreneur Patricia Aymà; social innovator Hatim Azahri; entrepreneur Mercedes Bidart; and astrophysicist José Eduardo Méndez. Together, they represent a generation of professionals whose work bridges scientific excellence, creative practice, technological innovation, and social responsibility.

A defining feature of this year’s ceremony was its emphasis on education and mentorship as fundamental drivers in the development of future leaders. In her closing address, Princess Leonor reflected on the transformative role of teachers in recognizing and nurturing individual potential, emphasizing that talent is not simply an innate quality but one cultivated through opportunity, encouragement, and collective responsibility.

The Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation (NaEPF) is honoured to support the Fundación Princesa de Girona in its mission to empower young people capable of generating lasting societal impact. The partnership reflects a shared conviction that investing in the next generation is among the most effective ways to foster resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities. Through its longstanding commitment to education, scientific research, cultural heritage, environmental conservation, entrepreneurship, and community development, the Foundation continues to champion initiatives that enable individuals to become agents of positive transformation.

As a special moment of the ceremony, Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias and Girona wore Elsa Peretti’s personal Bean Clutch, part of the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation private collection. Princess Leonor first encountered Elsa Peretti’s sculptural and organic designs during her visit to Sant Martí Vell in July 2025, discovering Elsa’s legacy firsthand and remaining particularly fascinated by the Bean designs.

The Premios Princesa de Girona continue to stand among Spain’s most significant platforms for recognising emerging leadership, demonstrating that innovation, creativity, and social responsibility achieve their greatest impact when shared, an ethos that closely aligns with the philanthropic vision and enduring legacy of the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation.