The Spanish Tourist Office Unveils 2026 Spain Talks Awards Shortlist
The Spanish Tourist Office (UK) is proud to announce the shortlist for the Spain Talks Media Awards 2026.
This year's awards will be held at the Spanish Embassy in London for the first time, on Tuesday 21 April 2026, following the Spain Talks conference, which will feature important discussions on the major challenge: how to manage the growth of destinations in a sustainable way without compromising the visitor experience or the well-being of local communities, themed ‘A Destination Blueprint for Improved Tourism Management’.
The Spain Talks Media Awards recognise travel writers and content creators for their work in promoting Spain as a sustainable visitor destination in the UK market. The awards represent a recognition of excellence and innovation in all facets of sustainability in the tourism sector including social, cultural, economic, and environmental criteria.
The judges of the Spain Talks Media Awards 2026 are:
Carol Rose, Head of Sustainability at ABTA
Thomas Power, Co-Founder and CEO of Pura Aventura
Joanna Reeve, General Manager UK & Ireland at Intrepid Travel
Jessica Harvey Taylor, Head of Press at The Spanish Tourist Office in the UK
The shortlists for each category in the Spain Talks Media Awards 2026 are as follows:
The Ambassador Award for the Sustainable Feature of the Year (Content Creator)
Vanessa Ball – How to Explore Sierra Norte de Sevilla: Life Beyond Andalucia’s Capital (She Wanders Miles)
Amanda O’Brien – Social campaign ‘Spain is Much More’ (@theboutiqueadventurer)
Emma Reed – Slow-Travel Spain: From Madrid’s Heart to Coastal Charms (Emma Reed: Motherhood and Lifestyle with an Eco-Conscious Edge)
Amy Macpherson – A slow travel guide to Arcos de la Frontera (Senses of Spain)
The Business Award for the Sustainable Feature of the Year (Travel Trade)
Stuart Forster – The big interview: Spain’s blend of convenience and variety (Selling Travel)
Robin Murray – Why there’s more to Magaluf than parties and playas (Travel Weekly)
Simon Britchfield – The secret Spanish foodie haven that will leave clients hungry for more (TTG)
Emma Dooney – ‘Accessibility is seen as a hassle’ – now one country is on a mission to drive change (TTG)
The Experience Award for the Sustainable Feature of the Year (Consumer Print/Online on Specific Region, Island or City)
Fiona Dunlop – Show us your mussels! A mouthwatering trip to Vigo, Spain’s seafood capital (The Guardian)
Ross Clarke – Land of Lava: From hiking through misty laurel forests to watching the sun set over a volcanic crater, the Spanish island of Tenerife offers far more than the lively resorts it's known for (Postcards Magazine)
Eddi Fiegel – Exploring Melilla, the Spanish enclave on the north-west coast of Africa (Wanderlust)
Francheska Melendez – The ultimate roadtrip across northern Galicia, Spain (Monocle)
Eddi Fiegel – How the province of Girona became one of Spain’s gastronomy stars (National Geographic Traveller)
The Media Award for Sustainable Feature of the Year (Consumer Print/Online – All)
Norman Miller – What Santiago’s many ‘Camino’ pilgrims often miss (BBC Travel)
Marina Spironetti – Back to their roots: The Vines of the Priorat (Food and Travel Magazine)
Teresa Machan – Conservation, food and local culture on Gran Canaria (Green Traveller Media)
Laura Field – Hidden Spain: Venturing to lesser-known Zaragoza and Salamanca (Wanderlust)
The award ceremony will also include the Wanderlust Award for Spanish Tourism Personality of the Year, which in previous years has been awarded to Gabriel Escarrer, Chairman and CEO of Meliá Hotels International; Simón Pedro Barceló Vadell, Co-Chairman and Shareholder of the Barceló Group; and Luis Gallago, CEO of International Airlines Group (IAG).
Attendees will be able to enjoy a selection of Spanish canapés and drinks inspired by the regions of Andalusia and Gran Canaria, this year's destination sponsors.
Manuel Butler, director of the Spanish Tourist Office (UK), states:
"Spain Talks, which begun in London, has always been a platform for relevant exchange, and we are proud to continue leading the conversation around some of the main challenges in our sector. This fourth edition is especially significant, not only because of the level of the participating experts and professionals, but also because it is being held, for the first time, in the exceptional setting of the Residence of the Spanish Ambassador. We trust that it will be a truly inspiring day."
For all press enquiries contact Jessica Harvey Taylor on Jessica.harvey@tourspain.es or the Spanish Tourist Office’s PR agency LOTUS on spain@wearelotus.co.uk.