Under a persistent rain over Montjuïc, the Oval Room of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya became the stage for the first Night of the Catalan LettersA new major literary event that picks up where the historic Nit de Santa Llúcia left off. The change in format is significant: more prizes, more spectacle, and a clear intention to place Catalan literature at the center of the media spotlight.
Organized jointly by Òmnium Cultural and the Institut d'Estudis CatalansBroadcast during prime time by 3Cat, the gala aspires to become something like the "Gaudí Awards of literature." Twelve awards, numerous musical performances, and a tone somewhere between celebration and advocacy marked a night in which names such as Carlos Rebassa, Antònia Carré-Pons, Marc Artigau o Alexander Palomas They received the loudest applause.
A gala that inherits the tradition of the Nit de Santa Llúcia, but with a new look
The new ceremony is born to reformulate the traditional Nit de Santa Llúciawhich was cancelled last year just as it was due to reach its 75th edition. Xavier Antich, president of Òmnium Cultural, argued that “it was time to make a change” to achieve greater impact on the audience and further enhance the prestige of Catalan literature.
In this first edition of the Nit de les Lletres Catalanes, the following awards have been given twelve literary prizesNine prizes are dedicated to unpublished works and three to previously published books, with a combined prize fund of approximately €155.000. The overall impression is of a more ambitious format, with a staging that deliberately recalls major European film galas like Gaudí or Goya, but transposed to the universe of the book.
The event was hosted by Xavier Grasset, Alba Riera and Elisenda PinedaThey shared the presentation, interviews, and humorous moments. Their interventions combined gags about current political and cultural events—from the Rodalies rail crisis to debates about school fees—with the presentation of the various award winners, which lent a light tone, although at times the... dense rhythm of so many awards and micro-interviews.
In the artistic section, the gala included performances by Triquell, Gemma Humet, Ginestà and Sandra Monfortas well as dance pieces by Ariadna Peya and verses by Josep Pedrals, who opened the ceremony by reminding everyone, ironically, that if we want to keep the chain of books alive, we must continue reading. The Oval Room, already used on other occasions for major literary milestones, reinforced the country event concept centered around culture.
The Sant Jordi of a novel for Carles Rebassa and the great triumph of "Prometeu de mil maneres"
Among the twelve awards, the main focus was on the Sant Jordi Novel Prize, the most lucrative prize for unpublished work in Catalan literature, which in this new phase has risen to 75.000 EurosThe winner was the Mallorcan poet and storyteller Carlos Rebassa with the work Prometeu in a thousand ways, a choral novel set in a Palma plagued by economic and tourist speculation and due to an underlying social tension.
The work intertwines desire, despair, lies, class struggle, marginalization, and the need for affection In a city that, according to the synopsis, seems incapable of regenerating itself without destroying itself, the protagonist, Prometeu Dolors, works as a waiter in a café in downtown Palma and sees his life take a dramatic turn when he meets a young man named Carles. From that encounter, the story explores the fragility of identity, unequal relationships, and a love lived in a reckless and carnal way, with an oppressive atmosphere that captivates both characters and readers.
The jury highlighted a lively and direct languageThe novel, capable of sustaining a complex web of relationships marked by power and desire, features dark and tormented characters drawn into a certain fatalism. It will be published by Univers and was selected from seventy-five submissions, confirming Rebassa as one of the most singular voices in contemporary Catalan narrative.
In his speech, the author took advantage of the Sant Jordi showcase to launch a political and linguistic reflection. He emphasized that “Without language there is no country, no books, no projects” He called for legislation that would make Catalan “essential” for living in Catalan-speaking territories, demanding an active defense of the language in the courts, in schools, in institutions, and in everyday life. Literature, he stated, allows him to “try to balance the world,” but without a solid linguistic framework, that effort falls short.
Antònia Carré-Pons signs the best novel published with “La gran família”
The second big moment of the night came with the Òmnium Award for the Best Novel·la de l'AnyOne of the new awards added to this gala. The winner was the philologist and writer from Terrassa. Antònia Carré-Pons by The big family (Club Editor), a book that the jury defined as a accurate portrait of the transition to adulthood through two sisters born into a lineage of butchers.
The novel delves into a familiar universe where work and private life become blurredThe novel highlights the perspectives of the two daughters, who recount a childhood and adolescence far removed from idealization. Through their viewpoints, themes such as the weight of time, illness, and death are explored, with a sober approach to family memory and how each daughter confronts her own destiny.
The prize, endowed with 25.000 EurosThe verdict was announced live during the ceremony without the finalists knowing it beforehand. Carré-Pons used the stage to focus attention on the lack of parity in the shortlists and called for measures to ensure that female voices are not clearly underrepresented in future editions. Only two of the ten nominated works were written by women, a fact the author considered revealing of an imbalance that still needs to be addressed.
In his speech, he also alluded to the harshness of the current context, marked by injustices, fears and global tensionsShe expressed gratitude that the fleeting joy of the award allowed her, for a moment, to set aside that sense of the world's imperfection. This combination of vindication and gratitude resonated with some members of the audience who had just listened to other speeches focused on language and cultural policies.
The new Òmnium Prize is thus consolidated as a significant recognition of the best novel published in Catalan During the year, distinguished from the awards for unpublished work and with the explicit desire to reinforce the visibility of titles that have already reached bookstores.
Stories, poetry and theater: Marc Artigau, Jaume Coll and Josep R. Cerdà
Beyond the novel, the Nit de les Lletres Catalanes (Night of Catalan Letters) awarded prizes in almost every literary genre. In short fiction, the Mercè Rodoreda Award for stories and narrations fell on Marc Artigau by Aquest serà el nostre pou, his first collection of short stories, endowed with 6.000 euros. The volume brings together twelve stories that explore how Evil infiltrates everyday situationsA children's party that turns disturbing, an unwelcoming nursing home, a couple obsessed with their neighbors, or an accident victim waiting for an ambulance that never arrives are some of the scenarios in this collection.
Artigau, also known for his dramatic work and media collaborations, accepted the award from Empar Moliner and Xavier Bosch and summed up his gratitude in a simple idea: Being able to write and be read is a privilegeThe jury valued the book's ability to portray a familiar evil, disguised as routine, that engages the reader without the need for elaborate plot devices.
In poetry, the historical Carles Riba Prize, one of the deans of the Catalan literary system, distinguished Jaume Coll Mariné through the poetry collection Like the fullsThe book, as the author explained, stems from a intimate connection with the landscape and with everyday life, closely linked to her native Muntanyola. The jury highlighted the clarity and apparent simplicity of the poetic voice, which conceals a remarkable rhetorical work and a nuanced assimilation of tradition.
The poems revolve around the passage of time, close affections, and a certain "small astonishment at the world," that feeling that a person is little more than a leaf Driven by forces beyond its control. With a prize of 5.000 euros, the Carles Riba maintains its symbolic weight as a key recognition in contemporary Catalan poetry.
In the theatrical sphere, the evening served to premiere the Àngel Guimerà Prize for Dramatic Literature, endowed with 15.000 euros, which went to Josep R. Cerdà by The second lineThe work is set in a urban non-places on the Calvià coastIn Mallorca, marked by mass tourism and precariousness, he builds a drama with an oppressive atmosphere around two men adrift and a mysterious woman who bursts into their lives.
Forced to take refuge in an almost ghostly Grand Hotel Vista Mar, the characters confront their own personal flaws and the consequences of a a tourism model that expels the losers from the systemCerdà argued, upon receiving the award, that genre literature—including that close to noir or horror—can also be profoundly political and serve to illuminate the margins of the labor and social market.
New voices and new awards: Lo Somni, Vinyeta and the commitment to comics
Among the highlights of the evening was Lo Somni Award for new literary talentThe award, designed to support debut fiction writers, was presented by the publishing house La Magrana and includes a prize of 10.000 euros. It was awarded to the actress, translator, and theater director. Cristina Genebat for his first novel, In turn.
The jury described the work as a mosaic of the many lives that fit into a single lifewhere a young girl's summer adventures resonate with the life of a mature ballerina. The book, to be published in September, also examines how the The male gaze conditions women throughout life stages and is presented as an ode to freedom and imagination, understood as two sides of the same coin.
In his speech, Genebat clearly asked “to bet on humanity and culture” as an antidote to contemporary violence and barbarity, and dedicated the prize, among other groups, to women and the strength they display when they move forward together. The recognition of her debut adds to the gala's aim to showcase Catalan literature It incorporates new voices from disciplines such as theater or the translation.
Another significant addition was the FICOMIC Vinyeta Prize, newly created and endowed with 2.000 euros, which certifies that the Comics are considered fully part of the literary ecosystem. of the Night of Catalan Letters. The first winner was Berta Cusó by The conca dels àngels (Pagès Editors), a work that addresses the war from the perspective of six women of very different origins, jobs and realities, whose lives converge in Berlin.
The jury highlighted the graphic and technical personality of the book, as well as the originality of its approach and the diversity of its protagonists, which allow for addressing such a relevant topic as armed conflict from a feminine and universal perspective. Cusó expressed her gratitude that comics were being incorporated into an evening still dominated by narrative and poetry, and argued that this presence helps to to broaden the idea of what literature can be today.
Children and youth: from “Animals que cauen del cel” to “Una veritat”
Children's and young adult literature had a significant presence at the gala, with awards already well-established within the Catalan literary scene. Josep Maria Folch i Torres Award The prize for a children's novel, with over sixty editions and a grant of 4.000 euros, went to Victor Borràs i Gasch by Animals that fall from the sky.
The story follows Aina, a little girl who one day finds a small paper figure falling from the sky. The next day, another one falls; and so on, without her knowing where they come from or why. From this simple premise, the book explores the capacity of shared creativity to transform the environmentBorràs championed precisely that creative link, which according to him is not the exclusive domain of professional artists: anyone can "create together" and improve their immediate environment.
The moment of the award ceremony was particularly emotional, as the illustrators themselves were in charge of announcing the prize. Pilarín Bayés and Roser Capdevilamuch loved by several generations of readers. Her presence drew a standing ovation from the audience, and underscored the symbolic weight of illustration and the children's book in Catalan culture.
In young adult literature, the Joaquim Ruyra PrizeThe prize, worth 6.000 euros, was awarded to Alexander Palomas by A truth, a work that brings back the protagonist from his previous A fillThe book continues Guillem's story and brings back characters like Natzia and Angie, a girl who travels to Spain for a medical operation and whose case is discovered by a school counselor who senses that Behind the appearance lies a much more complex puzzle.
Palomas, who had already won this same award years before, dedicated the prize to teachers, professors and counselorsA group that, she said, is running on fumes and lacking motivation. She championed the role of teachers as emotional and cultural support for children and adolescents, warned of the consequences of neglecting their vocation, and encouraged families to prioritize books over screens such as mobile phones or tablets. In her speech, she also delivered a message of "No to war" on behalf of the children of the planet.
Translation and international projection: Ramon Monton and Paul Freedman
The Night of Catalan Letters also reserved space to recognize the work of translation and the dissemination of Catalan culture abroad. PEN Català Montserrat Franquesa Translation AwardThe prize, created a decade ago and endowed with 4.000 euros, was awarded to the translator. Ramon Monton for his Catalan version of the tetralogy Josep and his brothers, Thomas MannPublished by Comanegra.
It is a monumental project of over 2.000 pages, with a text full of erudition, long sentences, and complex structures. The jury especially valued the skill with which Monton translates that density into Catalan Without losing clarity or fluency, the reading encounters no obstacles despite the demands of the original. Monton himself, in a speech that mixed irony and criticism, downplayed the effort with a “I think it turned out quite well,” while calling for addressing “the root of the problems” in a world marked by wars and conflicts.
The same jury wanted to mention, although without awarding a prize, the translation of Ferrocarrils de Mèxic, by Gian Marco Griffi, by Paul Vidal, underlining his linguistic ingenuity and wealth of expressive resourcesThe recognition, although not formalized in the form of an award, reinforces the idea that translation occupies a central place in the vitality of the Catalan literary system.
On the international front, the Joan B. Cendrós Prize distinguished the American historian Paul FreedmanProfessor at Yale University, for his extensive career dedicated to the study of Medieval CataloniaHis research has addressed topics such as the peasantry, the history of the Church and historiography, and has contributed to inserting Catalan history into the great European debates on the Middle Ages.
Freedman explained that a few fifty years since he began his connection with Catalan history and cuisineand that recognitions like this reinforce the meaning of his work. His latest book, focused on how the Middle Ages were studied in Enlightenment-era Catalonia, is scheduled to be published in Catalan in the coming years. In addition to his academic work, he has written extensively on gastronomy and has been named an honorary member of the Catalan Academy of Gastronomy and Nutrition, demonstrating how Catalan culture circulates in European and international academic and gastronomic spaces.
Literary communication and podcasts: «La contracoberta» and «Club Tàndem»
The gala also wanted to highlight the role of the communication projects that bring literature closer to the general public. The Muriel Casals Communication Award The award was given jointly to two podcasts that have gained a loyal audience in the Catalan region: The counter-cover, Clàudia Rius, and Club Tandem, presented by Juliana Canet and Marina Porras in 3Cat.
The counter-cover, promoted with the support of Editorial Barcino, is presented as a space for context and in-depth readingIn this series, Rius converses with specialists and leading figures in the literary field to add layers of interpretation to the works. The intention is to circulate literary knowledge rigorously, but with an open and accessible perspective.
For its part, Club Tandem It is presented as a multiplatform program in which its hosts address universal themes based on masterpieces of Catalan literatureEach episode connects authors such as Terenci Moix, Jacint Verdaguer, Maria Mercè Marçal, Santiago Rusiñol, Irene Polo, Ausiàs March, Àngel Guimerà or Blai Bonet with series, films, music and personal life experiences, also featuring contributions from guest specialists.
Both projects confirm that the dissemination of literature no longer relies solely on printed cultural supplements, but rather It incorporates formats such as podcasts and digital content creation., fundamental to reaching young audiences and to strengthening the presence of Catalan in the audiovisual environment.
The first award presented that evening was the Muriel Casals Prize, named after the former president of Òmnium Cultural. The award was presented by librarian Antònia Capdevila and writer Carla Gràcia, who emphasized the role of libraries and reading mediators as key pieces in the book chain.
Pride, reading and language: the message from Òmnium and the IEC
Beyond the list of award winners, the first Nit de les Lletres Catalanes (Night of Catalan Letters) aimed to send a clear message about the place of literature in the country. Teresa Cabré, president of the Institut d'Estudis Catalans, as Xavier AntichThe president of Òmnium Cultural insisted on the idea that it is a a celebration that reinforces the pride and self-esteem of Catalan literature.
Cabré emphasized that the gala helps to counteract the constant flow of negative news about language and cultureShe defined it as a tribute to all the people who make books possible: writers, translators, editors, bookstores, libraries, and also readers. Antich, for his part, recalled that we have gone from “300 patriots hiding in a bookstore” on the first Nit de Santa Llúcia in 1951 to thousands of people today watching a televised gala during prime time.
Both leaders insisted that in the battle for freedom and social cohesion We need more books and more cultureand that the work cannot be taken for granted. Literature, reading, and language are seen as axes that can stitching together the different Catalan-speaking territoriesto strengthen the publishing industry and maintain a unique space in the European cultural landscape.
In this vein, the awards highlighted not only the quantity and quality of literary production, but also the role of translations, bookstores, public libraries and reading clubs scattered throughout the country. Attention thus shifts, at this stage, from the explicit defense of civil and political rights to the active promotion of Catalan culture and language as tools for cohesion.
The director of the gala, Lluís DanésAnd the team of presenters included references to figures like Maria Mercè Marçal or Vicent Andrés Estellés and moments of humor that were more or less successful—including a gag about the Sijena paintings that didn't quite land—but the final impression was that of a a reaffirmation of reading in a turbulent social context.
From the Night of Santa Llúcia to a new format for Catalan letters
The Night of Catalan Letters did not emerge from nothing. Behind it lies a long tradition of... Saint Lucy's NightThe literary evening that began in 1951 in the old Catalònia bookstore, behind closed doors and without permission from the Franco regime. That first edition only awarded one prize, the Joanot Martorell, which Josep Pla won, but it left its mark a precedent of cultural resistance and national affirmation that has lasted for decades.
Over time, the Nit de Santa Llúcia grew in awards, audience and following, until it became a annual reference point prior to Sant JordiThe decision to stop it at its 75th edition and to continue it with this new format has generated debates in the sector, including concerns about the concentration of the publishing market and the weight of the large groups that award many of the prizes to unpublished works.
Despite these reservations, the first Nit de les Lletres Catalanes wanted to make it clear that the intention is to keep alive the heritage of Santa Llúciabut adapted to a different media ecosystem, with a greater presence on television and social media. The choice of the MNAC as the venue, the stage design, and the close collaboration between Òmnium and the IEC point to a model of a major cultural gala of reference in the European sphere, focused on Catalan literature.
The final list of award winners for this first edition includes, among others, Carlos Rebassa (Sant Jordi Novel Award for Prometeu in a thousand ways), Antònia Carré-Pons (Omnium Award for the best novel·la de l'any for The big family), Josep R. Cerdà (Premi Àngel Guimerà por The second line), Marc Artigau (Premi Mercè Rodoreda for Aquest serà el nostre pou), Jaume Coll Mariné (Carles Riba of poetry with Like the fulls), Cristina Genebat (The Dream with In turn), Victor Borràs i Gasch (Folch i Torres by Animals that fall from the sky), Alexander Palomas (Joaquim Ruyra by A truth), Ramon Monton (PEN Català Montserrat Franquesa for the translation of Josep and his brothers), Berta Cusó (FICOMIC cartoon with The conca dels àngels), along with the distinctions to Paul Freedman podcasts already The counter-cover y Club Tandem.
Upon leaving the Oval Room of the MNAC, once the initial downpour had subsided, the impression remained that the first Nit de les Lletres Catalanes had aspired to be something more than a simple awards ceremony: a A meeting point between established authors and new talents, between books, podcasts and comics, between tradition and reformulation of a collective ritual surrounding reading. If the ambition was to reinforce pride in Catalan literature and gain new readers, the event has laid a solid foundation for that night to become a fixture on the cultural agenda of Spain and Europe as a whole as a unique showcase of Catalan-language creation.
