The inaugural Gala Imperia took place on 13 October 2026, marking a new chapter in the recognition of women's contributions to sports. This event succeeds the historic Women’s Gala established in 2019 and aims to promote the visibility of female athletes and their achievements.
Hosted at the Conde Duque Cultural Centre, the gala was attended by Madrid's mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, and the city’s sports councillor, Sonia Cea. The event is part of the city’s efforts to position Madrid as a central hub for key figures, organisations, and projects related to women's sports.
Under the motto ‘In Imperia, you do not win. You enter,’ the Gala Imperia is designed to serve as a permanent platform for recognising, remembering, and projecting the legacy of women in sports. The initiative underscores the Madrid City Council's commitment to acknowledging female talent and promoting sports as a tool for social transformation.
The ceremony featured prominent athletes and numerous personalities from the sports and civil society sectors. During the gala, the advisory board of Imperia was introduced, comprising the project's founders and notable figures in Spanish sports, including Theresa Zabell, Ona Carbonell, Gemma Mengual, Amaya Valdemoro, Eli Pinedo, Crys Dyaz, Lydia Valentín, Miriam Blasco, Ana Alonso, María Pérez, and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario.
This year, ten distinguished individuals from the realms of sports and society were inducted into Imperia across various categories that recognise excellence, leadership, transformation, impact, and legacy. The honourees included the Spanish U-20 football team in the Rising Star category; sisters Baceiredo in Game Changer; Natalia Dobrynska in Beyond Sports; Cristina Mitre in People’s Choice; Andrea Fuentes in Leadership; Mireia Belmonte in Legacy; Vikika Costa in Global Impact; Sandra Sánchez in Best Sport Film; Carmen Jordá in Global Icon; and Atlético de Madrid Femenino in Global Team.
