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The Catalan writer Cristina Fernández Cubas was on Tuesday named the winner of the Cervantes Prize 2026, the highest distinction in Spanish-language literature, worth 125,000 euros.
The Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, announced the jury’s decision, which acknowledges her contribution to renewing the contemporary short story.
The jury highlighted “the originality, excellence and coherence” of a body of work that has transformed Spanish-language fantasy fiction. It also praised her ability to explore human experience through stories marked by mystery and ambiguity.
Born in Arenys de Mar (Barcelona) in 1945, Fernández Cubas is one of the leading figures in Spanish short fiction. Among her works are ‘Mi hermana Elba’, ‘El ángulo del horror’ and ‘La habitación de Nona’.
Over the course of her career she has also received the National Narrative Prize and the National Prize for Spanish Literature.
With this recognition, Fernández Cubas becomes the seventh woman to receive the Cervantes, following in the footsteps of writers such as María Zambrano, Ana María Matute and Elena Poniatowska. The prize consolidates her career and her influence on new generations of writers.
