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Vega Sicilia, Grupo Paraguas, the “la Caixa” Foundation and the Menorca Island Council were among the award recipients at the ceremony, held at the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum.
SIE, Spain is Excellence, held the fifth edition of the SIE Awards on Monday at the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, an event that brought together seven leading figures from the worlds of fashion, culture, gastronomy, business, tourism and sport, whose careers have helped to strengthen Spain’s image both at home and abroad.
The 2026 SIE Awards recognised Palomo Spain in Fashion; Carmen Posadas in Culture; Grupo Paraguas in Gastronomy; Vega Sicilia in Family Business; the “la Caixa” Foundation in Large Enterprise; the Consell Insular de Menorca in Tourism; and Fernando Verdasco in Sport.
Beyond the prominence of the award winners, the prizes recognise projects and careers capable of building the country’s reputation through creativity, business continuity, identity, social impact, sustainability and international reach.
“Spain does not project itself to the world through a single sector. It does so through its creators, its businesses, its culture, its gastronomy, its destinations and its athletes. This edition reflects precisely that collective capacity to build the country’s reputation,” said Ana Alonso, CEO of SIE, Spain is Excellence.
Seven ways to showcase Spain
In the Fashion category, Palomo Spain, a brand founded by designer Alejandro Gómez Palomo, was recognised for having developed its own distinctive style and for bringing a contemporary vision of Spanish fashion to the world’s leading catwalks.
The writer Carmen Posadas received the Culture award for her literary career of international standing and for her contribution to the promotion of Spanish-language literature.
In Gastronomy, the award went to Grupo Paraguas, for having built a restaurant model based on product quality, service, hospitality and a distinctive experience.
Vega Sicilia was honoured as a Family Business for preserving, over generations, one of the great icons of Spanish wine, maintaining a close relationship with the region and a constant commitment to quality.
The Large Enterprise award went to the “la Caixa” Foundation, for the scope of its social, educational, scientific and cultural work and for the impact of its programmes across different sectors of society.
In Tourism, the Consell Insular de Menorca was recognised for promoting a model that links tourism development with landscape protection, sustainability and the island’s unique identity.
Finally, Fernando Verdasco received the Sport award for an international career that has taken the name of Spanish tennis to some of the sport’s major stages.
A multidisciplinary jury
The winners were selected by a jury comprising Cari Lapique, businesswoman; Cayetana Guillén-Cuervo, actress, journalist and presenter; Pepa Muñoz, chef and founder of El Qüenco de Pepa; Iker Casillas, former international footballer; Charo Izquierdo, fashion consultant, journalist, writer and businesswoman; Juan Manuel González Serna, first vice-president of Iberdrola; and Fernando de Yarza, president of the Henneo Group, amongst others.
The composition of the jury reflects SIE’s cross-cutting vision, which views excellence as a means of creating value across very different fields, yet united by high standards, uniqueness and a commitment to Spain’s image.
Over 250 guests at an evening dedicated to Spanish excellence
The ceremony brought together over 250 guests, including business leaders, SIE partners and members, representatives from various institutions, executives from the tourism, cultural and gastronomic sectors, as well as prominent figures from the social, sporting and media spheres.
The high turnout confirmed the growing interest in a model of tourism excellence linked to quality, identity, sustainability and Spain’s international profile. Following the photocall and the awards ceremony, the evening continued with a cocktail reception at the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, an event that also served as a meeting point for companies, institutions and professionals who share a common vision regarding the country’s positioning.
Partner companies and institutions
The SIE 2026 Awards were supported by the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, Castilla Termal Brihuega, The Arc Collection, eSIMFLAG, Linkroad, Inspiring Soho and Don Carlos Marbella.
About SIE, SPAIN IS EXCELLENCE
SIE, Spain is Excellence is a Tourism Excellence Club that brings together companies, institutions, hotels, destinations and projects committed to high standards of quality. Through its seals of approval and promotional activities, it works to strengthen Spain’s position as a leading international destination based on three principles: excellence, ethics and uniqueness.
Source: SIE. Spain is Excellence