Princess Leonor and family attend Princess of Asturias Awards

The Princess of Asturias was joined by her parents, King Felipe and Queen Letizia, and her sister, Infanta Sofía, for the Princess of Asturias Awards 2026.

Ahead of the awards, the Spanish royals attended the Princess of Asturias Awards Concert held at the “Prince Felipe” Conference Centre Auditorium in Oviedo. The Princess of Asturias Foundation organised the concert in collaboration with the CajAstur Foundation.

The Spanish royals were received by the President of the Principality of Asturias, Adrián Barbón; the President of the General Assembly of the Principality of Asturias, Juan Manuel Cofiño; the Government Delegate in the Principality of Asturias, Cecilia Pérez; the Mayor of Oviedo, Alfredo Canteli; the President of the Princess of Asturias Foundation, Ana Isabel Fernández, and the Director of the Foundation, Teresa Sanjurjo.

Photo: © Casa de S.M. el Rey

The concert was dedicated to the composer Felix Mendelssohn. It was performed by the Principality of Asturias Symphony Orchestra (OSPA) and the Princess of Asturias Foundation Choir, who performed Symphony No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 52, “Lobgesang” (“Song of Praise”), under the direction of Maestro Nuno Coelho, principal conductor of the OSPA.

The following day, the Princess of Asturias and Infanta Sofía received the winners of the “2025 End of Degree Awards” of the University of Oviedo. They also received the recipients of the 2026 Medals of Asturias and the Princess of Asturias Awards 2026. 

Photo: © Casa de S.M. el Rey

Later that day, the Princess of Asturias Awards ceremony took place at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo. Queen Sofía also joined the ceremony. After the Royal Pipe Band “City of Oviedo performed the national anthem, the Princess of Asturias opened the ceremony and presented the awards. 

Photo: © Casa de S.M. el Rey

Afterwards, the Princess also gave a speech in which she said, “How does my generation cope with such complexity? How do we digest the speed and disillusionment, what many consider a lack of prospects and the impossibility of planning a life, having a quality job, a home… And, in my case—if I may—how can I appear before you sincere and aware, neither naive nor apocalyptic, neither cynical nor dramatic? How can I convey here the meaning and importance of observing these individuals, our award recipients, for what they contribute to maintaining our capacity for wonder, our curiosity, and our need to trust…? Are these times perhaps darker than those before? Does it make sense to come to Oviedo every year to express our gratitude—to this foundation and to those who support it—that these women and men sitting on this stage today have lives and works that help us to have faith? It does.”