On 28 September 2026, Alberto Núñez Feijóo spoke at the Premios Vanguardia 2026 in Barcelona about journalism’s future. He argued that a newspaper loses credibility when it stops defending facts. The ceremony also recognised cultural figures, with awards reaching business and civil society.
The event took place at the Palau de Congresos de Catalunya. Feijóo paid tribute to La Vanguardia on its 145th anniversary, praising its long history under a family of editors and saying the publication could help shape the future of Catalunya and Spain. Pedro Sánchez and Salvador Illa were among the political figures at the gala. Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni also attended.
His message was direct: media outlets need credibility to survive. Feijóo said the press must protect pluralism and distinguish truth from falsehood in its reporting and editorial positions. La Vanguardia’s coverage also focused on "pluralidad informativa", "rigor periodístico" and press freedom.
That argument fits the wider political profile of the PP leader. His position on national issues also appeared in an earlier PP report. At the gala, he focused on journalism’s role, leaving housing and electoral strategy aside.
Feijóo also praised Barcelona and Catalunya while discussing this year’s winners. He singled out Isidro Fainé, president of Fundación 'la Caixa', and mentioned Joan Manuel Serrat and Montserrat Caballé’s legacy. Reports by La Vanguardia and EFE described the same mix of cultural, civic and political themes. Launched in 2023, the awards’ 2026 edition marked La Vanguardia’s 145th anniversary. Organisers and the editorial team presented the gala as a major public event, drawing more than 1,200 guests. Its 10 awards spanned culture and science, alongside business and civic initiatives.
The guest list gave him another point to make. He described the awards as an open event with international reach, citing the prime minister of Greenland and the appearance’s focus on autonomy and sovereignty. In his view, the honourees represented a society that reference media should include in their content and editorials.
In Feijóo’s account, the ceremony became more than an anniversary celebration. It gave him a platform to link press freedom with editorial responsibility and public trust. The presence of representatives from national and Catalan institutions, as well as municipal government, added institutional weight.
For media organisations, the basic point was clear: credibility depends on factual accuracy. La Vanguardia’s anniversary and the range of award winners gave that argument a real setting. It grounded his defence of journalism in the ceremony rather than leaving it abstract.
Feijóo’s message set a professional standard: a free press needs plural voices and facts that can withstand scrutiny. Without that foundation, freedom weakens and credibility fades. Europa Press reported that Feijóo stayed in Barcelona the next day for a meeting with the Terrassa business community. His visit so covered a wider political and economic agenda, extending beyond the awards ceremony.
