Aena, the Spanish airport management company, introduced a new Hispano-American Narrative Prize on Thursday, which will award one million euros to the winning entry, as well as 30,000 euros to each of the four finalists. The announcement was made in Madrid during a ceremony featuring renowned writer Rosa Montero, who will lead the judging panel alongside Aena's president, Maurici Lucena. The first winner of this prize is set to be revealed on April 8 in Barcelona, with the finalists being disclosed earlier on March 17.

The Aena Prize aims to recognize original narrative works written in Spanish or co-official languages of Spain that have been published in 2025, aspiring to achieve a prestigious status akin to the Goncourt award in France or the Booker Prize in the UK. This initiative reflects a commitment to promoting Spanish-language literature and enhancing its visibility on an international scale. According to Lucena, the prize will be independent of any publishing interests, ensuring fairness in the selection process.

This prize not only offers substantial financial rewards but also emphasizes the importance of literature within the Spanish-speaking world. By providing a significant prize for emerging and established writers, Aena seeks to cultivate a rich literary culture that resonates beyond its national borders, ultimately contributing to a broader appreciation of Hispanic narrative arts in the global literary community.