The 40th edition of the awards cinema Spaniard will return to the Catalan capital after 26 years, with a program that invites participation and recognition of audiovisual talent.
Next February 28, 2026, Barcelona will once again be the scene of one of the most anticipated nights for Spanish cinema: the Goya Awards gala. The 40th ceremony will take place in the Auditorium of the Barcelona International Convention Center, very close to the Mediterranean.
The news was announced at the Palau de la Generalitat by the president of the Film Academy, Fernando MĆ©ndez-Leite, accompanied by the mayor of the city, Jaume Collboni, the Minister of Culture, SĆ²nia HernĆ”ndez, and the vice president of the institution, Rafael Portela.
A return with a symbolic load
25 years have passed since Barcelona hosted the Goya Awards for the first time, in 2000. Returning now, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the awards, is presented as a gesture full of meaning. MĆ©ndez-Leite expressed it this way: āCatalonia has been and is essential to understand the history of Spanish cinemaā.
During the event, the fundamental contribution of screenwriters, producers, performers, technicians and film schools in Catalonia was remembered, with names that have made a place for themselves in the collective memory. Also highlighted was the recognition of director Gonzalo SuƔrez, who will receive the Goya of Honor for his career linked to the city.
Catalan cinema, in full effervescence
The celebration comes at a time when the Catalan industry is experiencing a boom. It is no coincidence that the three films shortlisted to represent Spain at the Oscars have Catalan production: RomerĆa (Carla SimĆ³n), Sirat (Oliver Laxe) and Sorda (Eva Libertad).
Minister HernƔndez stressed that for the Generalitat the audiovisual sector is a strategic sector, while Collboni recalled that the challenge is to attract younger audiences and recover the magic of watching movies in theaters.
Much more than a gala: a citizen festival
The Academy and the institutions involved have announced that it will not just be a closed gala. The city will be transformed into a large cinematographic stage with activities open to citizens:
- An urban exhibition dedicated to award-winning Catalan performers and creators.
- A āwalk of fameā with large format images of winners from all editions.
- Screenings of nominated films accompanied by meetings with their teams.
- Educational and social programs aimed at young people and groups in vulnerable situations.
- Urban installations with giant reproductions of the Goya and photocalls open to the public.
All this with the intention that cinema is experienced in the streets and not only on the red carpet.
An open reflection
Can an event like the Goya really contribute to bringing the public back to the theaters? Or is its greatest value in making visible the talent and diversity of those who make films? The answer is not unique, but the truth is that this edition wants to open a conversation that transcends the awards.
On February 28, 2026, Barcelona will not only once again be the capital of Spanish cinema for one night: it will also be the meeting point between memory and the future of audiovisuals.
