Choreographer Amalia Fernández and dancer Marco Flores have won Spain's National Dance Awards for 2026, the Ministry of Culture announced in Madrid.
Fernández received the award in the Creation category, while Flores was honored in the Performance category. Each prize carries a cash endowment of 30,000 euros.
The annual awards are presented by the Spanish Ministry of Culture to recognize outstanding achievement in dance. Prizes are awarded for works or performances made public during the preceding year, 2025, as well as for overall career trajectories.
Creation category award for Amalia Fernández
The jury awarded the Creation prize to Amalia Fernández for the singularity of her production Familia. The panel noted that the work demonstrates a personal artistic vision defined by a unique capacity to innovate in choreographic composition and to explore new stage languages.
Judges highlighted that her creations display great expressive delicacy and a deep understanding of the relationship between the physical body, space, and musicality.
The panel also emphasized that throughout her extensive career, her support and collaboration with emerging artists in the contemporary scene, together with her work as an educator, have been fundamental pillars of her contribution to dance.
Fernández is an established figure in Spanish contemporary dance, known for her interdisciplinary performance projects and pedagogical work. The Creation category specifically honors choreographers and creators whose work expands movement form and stage language.
Performance category award for Marco Flores
In the Performance category, the jury recognized Marco Flores for his performance in his 2025 creation Tierra virgen and his touring production of Rayuela. The panel praised his exceptional technique, rhythmic mastery of compás, and stage versatility that transforms flamenco with elegance.
The judges described Flores as a dancer at a period of great professional maturity with an unquestioned career path. They noted that he has consistently remained ahead of his time, developing his own artistic discourse while continuing to investigate new choreographic approaches.
The panel concluded that Flores serves as an example of generosity in supporting younger generations of creators, while taking on complex and socially engaged themes in his productions.
Flores is a leading Spanish bailaor and choreographer known for bridging traditional flamenco with contemporary theater. In flamenco performance, compás refers to the foundational time cycles and metric rhythms that structure dance and musical accompaniment.
Spain's Ministry of Culture awards the National Dance Awards annually alongside other national artistic honors to preserve cultural heritage and foster contemporary performing arts across the country.
