In 2026, Barcelona will once again be in the national spotlight as it hosts the 40th Goya National Film Awards ceremony. The city hasn’t welcomed such a major event in nearly 26 years, and now it is ready to impress both guests and locals with new formats and fresh ideas.
The organizers have decided to bring the ceremony back to a major metropolis after recent events in Valladolid and Sevilla. This move highlights their effort to make the awards truly dynamic and accessible to different regions of the country. With its rich cultural history, Barcelona seems like the perfect place for this anniversary edition.
This year, special attention will be paid to honoring remarkable figures of cinema, including Verónica Echegui and Eusebio Poncela. In addition, the Goya de Honor will be awarded in Barcelona to director, writer, and screenwriter Gonzalo Suárez, who once filmed his first movies and published his debut books in the city.
One of the main innovations will be the launch of its own ‘Paseo de la Fama’—a walk of fame featuring large-format photographs of Catalan Goya laureates. Among them are such renowned names as Isabel Coixet, Eduard Fernández, Juan Antonio Bayona, and Rosa Maria Sardà. They will be joined by young talents like Enric Auquer and Anna Castillo. The walkway will appear in the lower part of the Diagonal, near the International Convention Center, which will host the main celebrations. Unlike its Hollywood counterpart, the Barcelona version will be temporary and more modest, but no less significant for the local film industry.
Ahead of the ceremony, the city will be filled with themed events: meetings with renowned directors and actors, screenings of nominated films, and special programs for children and vulnerable groups. Giant Goya statues, created by Valencian artists back in 2022, will appear on the streets. For cinema fans, it’s a great opportunity not only to see their idols but also to feel part of a major celebration.
The anniversary ceremony comes during a record year for Catalan cinema: in 2024, 114 feature films were produced, and the audience increased by 67% compared to the previous year. Three Catalan films are already vying for a spot in the Oscar race: “Romería” by Carla Simón, “Sirat” by Oliver Laxe, and “Sorda” by Eva Libertad. All have received recognition not only in Spain but also internationally.
The appearance of a Walk of Fame will symbolize the acknowledgment of Catalan filmmakers’ contributions throughout the history of the award. For several weeks, Barcelona will quite literally transform into a vast film set, where everyone can experience both the history and the present of Spanish cinema.
