- They received the first ‘Iconos de la Excelencia Española’ Awards for their contribution to gastronomy, design and landscape.
- To mark its 15th anniversary, the association celebrated Spain’s talent, expertise and ability to transform its culture, heritage and way of life into a distinct national identity.
At a dinner at the Prado Museum, Círculo Fortuny brought together some of the leading figures from the luxury sector to celebrate Spanish excellence. Among them were Sidney Toledano, special adviser to the chairman of LVMH; Diego Della Valle, chairman and chief executive of the Tod’s Group; José Manuel Albesa, chief executive of Puig; Sofía Osborne and Fernando Terry, chairwoman and managing director of Osborne; Peter Sisseck, founder of Pingus; Adrien Grosso, president of Loewe for Europe and the Middle East; and Ana de la Cueva, chairwoman of Patrimonio Nacional, amongst others.
Círculo Fortuny has presented the first edition of the ‘Icons of Spanish Excellence Awards’ to Joan Roca, Patricia Urquiola and, posthumously, Fernando Caruncho. These awards were established to recognise Spanish figures of international renown who have not only achieved excellence in their work but have also helped to transform and enrich our country’s image and to promote Spanish cultural and creative excellence on the international stage.
The ceremony took place in the Jerónimos Cloister at the Prado National Museum, during a celebration that coincided with Círculo Fortuny’s 15th anniversary and brought together more than 120 representatives from the cultural and creative industries, the business world, institutions and international leaders.
Fifteen years after its foundation, Círculo Fortuny brings together 85 members from twelve sectors of activity, united in championing Spain’s expertise, talent, culture and creativity. The Spanish luxury sector is also represented in Europe through ECCIA, the European alliance that brings together the leading associations in the luxury sector. A sector with a turnover of nearly one trillion euros accounts for 5 per cent of European GDP and holds 70 per cent of the global luxury market.
The event also highlighted Spain’s unique strengths: our ability to transform our heritage, culture, expertise and way of life into a recognisable hallmark on the world stage, enabling us to project a distinct and recognisable image globally.
This vision was also expressed during the dinner, through the brands that form part of Círculo Fortuny: the art of the Prado Museum was complemented by Loewe’s perfume, wines from Círculo Fortuny’s partner wineries, tablecloths made from fabrics by Gastón y Daniela, glassware by Gordiola, cuisine by chefs Ramón Freixa and Toño Pérez, and music by the young talents of the Reina Sofía School of Music.
Icons of Spanish Excellence
Joan Roca received the ‘Icon of Spanish Excellence Award’ for his decisive contribution to establishing Spanish gastronomy as one of the world’s leading cultural references. At the helm of El Celler de Can Roca alongside his brothers Josep and Jordi, he has developed an approach to cuisine that combines research and innovation with respect for the produce and the local area. His work has transformed gastronomy into a contemporary expression of Spanish identity and a source of international influence. The restaurant was named the world’s best by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2013 and 2015.
The architect and designer Patricia Urquiola was also honoured for pushing the boundaries of contemporary design and cementing Spanish creativity on the international stage. From her studio in Milan, she has developed a distinctive language that bridges craftsmanship, industry and innovation, and which views design as a cultural expression capable of transforming our environment. Her work forms part of the collections at MoMA in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Vitra Design Museum. Her accolades include the San Fernando Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts and the 2025 National Design Award.
The posthumous award to Fernando Caruncho recognises a body of work that elevated the garden and landscape to a form of cultural and artistic expression. With a background in philosophy and a deep connection to classical and Mediterranean traditions, he developed his own distinctive language based on geometry, light, proportion and the pursuit of the essential. A committed member of Círculo Fortuny and co-chair of its Crafts Commission, he also helped to champion the preservation of Spanish crafts and traditional skills.
About CÍRCULO FORTUNY
Círculo Fortuny is the Spanish association for cultural and creative industries of excellence. Our aim is to promote recognition of the Spanish high-end sector, enhancing the image of the ‘Spain’ brand and that of our members. The association comprises 85 members from 12 different sectors of activity. Since 2011, it has been a member of ECCIA (European Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance), the leading body promoting and defending the high-end sector in the EU, which comprises the seven leading European luxury associations (Círculo Fortuny, Comité Colbert, Fondazione Altagamma, Meisterkreis, Walpole British Luxury, Laurel and Gustaff III Committee), collectively representing over 750 companies and brands. Further information at www.circulofortuny.com.
Source: ION, Imagen y Comunicación