The Spanish film industry is back in the spotlight as the nominees for the 2026 Goya Awards have been announced. This season, both the jury and audiences are faced with a remarkable variety of themes and genres, and the list of contenders for the top honors features not only big names but also unexpected discoveries. Barcelona, hosting the ceremony for the second time, is preparing to welcome the brightest figures in contemporary Spanish cinema.
Two films — “Sirat” and “Los domingos” — have drawn particular attention. Both have already ignited lively debate among industry insiders and film enthusiasts. Their success in the nominations came as no surprise, but competition this year promises to be especially fierce. Organizers chose the Auditori del Centre de Convencions Internacionals de Barcelona for the ceremony, giving the event a special status.
Leading contenders
Five films will compete for Best Picture: “La cena,” “Los domingos,” “Maspalomas,” “Sirat,” and “Sorda.” Each offers a unique perspective on modern Spain, unafraid to tackle difficult issues and complex emotions. Experts note that the jury faces a tough decision this year—such a strong and diverse slate is rarely seen in a single lineup.
The Best Director category includes both acclaimed veterans and new talents: Alauda Ruiz de Azúa (“Los domingos”), Carla Simon (“Romería”), Oliver Laxe (“Sirat”), the duo José Mari Goenaga and Aitor Arregi (“Maspalomas”), and Albert Serra (“Tardes de Soledad”). Each brought a distinct auteur’s vision, which only increases anticipation for the final results.
Breakthrough performances
The race for Best Actor of the Year features Alberto San Juan (“La cena”), Miguel Garcés (“Los domingos”), José Ramón Sorois (“Maspalomas”), Mario Casas (“Muy lejos”), and Manolo Solo (“Una quinta portuguesa”). Among the actresses in the spotlight are Ángela Cervantes (“La furia”), Patricia López Arnaiz (“Los domingos”), Antonia Zegers (“Los Tortuga”), Nora Navas (“Mi amiga Eva”), and Susana Abaitua (“Un fantasma en la batalla”).
Special attention was given to nominations for emerging talents. The “Best Breakthrough Actor” category includes Antonio ‘Toni’ Fernández Gabarre (“Ciudad sin sueño”), Julio Peña (“El cautivo”), Hugo Welzel (“Enemigos”), Jan Monter Palau (“Estrany Riu”), and Mitch Robles (“Romería”). Among the breakthrough actresses, standout nominees are Nora Hernández (“La cena”), Blanca Soroa (“Los domingos”), Elvira Lara (“Los Tortuga”), Lucía García (“Romería”), and Miriam Garlo (“Sorda”).
Screenwriting and technical excellence
In the Best Original Screenplay category, the nominees are Alauda Ruiz de Azúa (“Los domingos”), José Mari Goenaga (“Maspalomas”), Agustín Díaz Yanes (“Un fantasma en la batalla”), Oliver Laxe and Santiago Fillol (“Sirat”), and Avelina Prat (“Una quinta portuguesa”). The adaptation of literary and theatrical works for cinema is credited to Guillermo Galoé and Víctor Alonso-Berbel (“Ciudad sin sueño”), Celia Rico Clavellino (“La buena letra”), Joaquín Oristrell, Manuel Gómez Pereira, and Yolanda García Serrano (“La cena”), Carla Simón (“Romería”), and Eva Libertad (“Sorda”).
Technical categories have not gone unnoticed this year either. Top specialists in editing, cinematography, makeup, costume design, and sound present their work in films like “Ciudad sin sueño,” “Los domingos,” “Sirat,” “El cautivo,” “Gaua,” and others. Each of these categories promises intense competition, as the level of professionalism among participants leaves no room for doubt, even among the harshest critics.
Animation, documentary and international projects
The Goya Awards traditionally recognize not only feature films but also the best animation and documentary projects. This year, the contenders for Best Animated Film are “Bella,” “Decorado,” “El tesoro de Barracuda,” “Norbert” and “Olivia y el terremoto invisible.” In the documentary category, notable nominees include “2025. Todos somos Gaza,” “Eloy de la Iglesia. Adicto al cine,” “Flores para Antonio,” “Tardes de soledad” and “The Sleeper. El Caravaggio perdido.”
The international categories feature works from Latin America and Europe. Competing for Best Ibero-American Film are “Belén,” “La misteriosa mirada del flamenco,” “La piel del agua,” “Manas” and “Un poeta.” European filmmakers are represented by films such as “Cónclave,” “La chica de la aguja,” “On Falling,” “Un simple accidente” and “Valor Sentimental.”
Short films and emerging talents
Short films have also taken the spotlight this year. The live-action short category features “Ángulo muerto,” “De sucre,” “El cuento de una noche de verano,” “Sexo a los 70” and “Una cabeza en la pared.” In documentary shorts, the nominated works are “Disonancia,” “El santo,” “La conversación que nunca tuvimos,” “The Painter’s Room” and “Zona Wao.” For animation, the contenders for the award include “Buffet paraiso,” “Carmela,” “El corto de Rubén,” “El estado del Alma” and “Gilbert.”
This year, the jury faces a tough choice among a host of talented newcomers. The Best Debut Director category features Ion de Sousa, Jaume Claret Muxart, Gemma Blasco, Gerard Oms and Eva Libertad. Their films have already drawn attention from critics and audiences, and winning this award could be the launchpad for a major career.
In case you didn’t know, the Goya Awards (Premios Goya) are Spain’s premier national film honors, established in 1987. They are presented by the Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España, the Spanish Academy of Cinematic Art and Science. The ceremony is traditionally held in various cities across the country, and the award itself is named after the artist Francisco Goya. Over the years, the Goya Awards have come to symbolize the highest recognition of achievement in Spanish cinema and are a major event for the entire industry.
