The Ministry of Culture has awarded the 2026 National Prize for Spanish Literature to renowned author enrique vila-matas. The jury selected vila-matas for his "decisive influence on contemporary narrative, his contribution to the Borgesian tradition in the Spanish language, as well as for his formal originality and fidelity to the metafictional spirit of Cervantes throughout a long and exemplary career."
In their statement, the jury highlighted that vila-matas "masterfully embodies the core principles of postmodern fiction through a unique style where the boundaries between reality and fabrication blur and intertwine with absolute fluidity, constructing a literary universe that dialogues with tradition while reinventing it. By turning doubt into method and reading into adventure, he champions literary creation as an art of intelligence and pleasure."
The jury further noted that his questioning of narrative authority, combined with a sharpness and humour that borders on laconicism and irony, positions him as one of Spain's most subversive writers. His work supports a creative and risky project within Hispanic literature, exploring the genre of the novel, authorship, personal identity, and the future of writing through a metaliterary journey grounded in citation, mestizaje, and essayistic play.
Moreover, the jury expressed that his deeply philosophical, poetic, and liberated creations reflect on the role of literature in today's world and engage with the works of other authors—those who are nonconformist and daring, capable of confronting failure in a kind of personal abyss—thus establishing a unique canon that connects us imperishably with the most essential human values. A master of the twist and a specialist in opening new fronts, vila-matas is an unclassifiable and surprising author whose sharpness and passion for literature have made him one of the most recognised figures on the international literary scene.
The prize, awarded by the Ministry of Culture, is worth €50,000 and recognises the overall literary work of a Spanish author whose contributions are considered integral to contemporary Spanish literature. Last year's award was given to María Victoria Atencia, adding to a prestigious list of previous recipients, including Manuel Rivas, Cristina Fernández Cubas, Luis Landero, Rosa Montero, and Bernardo Atxaga.
Biography of enrique vila-matas
Born in Barcelona in 1948, enrique vila-matas is a writer who studied law and journalism before beginning his professional career as a writer for the film magazine Fotogramas. His work, translated into around thirty languages, includes novels such as 'El viaje vertical' (1999), 'Bartleby y compañía' (2000), 'París no se acaba nunca' (2003), and 'Doctor Pasavento' (2005), as well as short story collections and essays.
Among his numerous accolades, vila-matas received the Premio Ciudad de Barcelona for 'Bartleby y compañía' in 2001, which also won the Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger in France in 2002. In 2006, he was awarded the Internazionale Ennio Flaiano di Narrativa and the Fundación Lara prizes for 'Doctor Pasavento', and in 2014 he received the Formentor de las Letras for his entire body of work. He has also been honoured as a Knight of the French Legion of Honour and has received honorary doctorates from various institutions.
Jury composition
The jury was chaired by María José Gálvez Salvador, the General Director of Books, Comics, and Reading at the Ministry of Culture, with Jesús González González serving as vice-chair. Other jury members included representatives from various Spanish literary and academic institutions.
