Cuban writer Leonardo Padura was awarded the Liber 2026 Prize this Thursday for the most outstanding Hispanic-American author, granted by the Federation of Guilds of Publishers of Spain in recognition of his career and the international impact of his work.
The jury highlighted his "career with significant international projection and the richness of registers and genres," as well as his ability to "tell stories that, starting from research, delve into truth, guilt, friendship, and the weight of history on individual lives," reported the agency Europa Press.
Padura becomes the first Cuban writer to receive this award, as the author himself confirmed following the announcement of the decision.
In thanking for the recognition, the novelist once again reaffirmed his connection to Cuba: "I express my gratitude as an author and as a Cuban writer who lives and writes in Cuba."
"It is not just any award, nor is it granted by any institution," said Padura, who emphasized the role of the Federation of Gremiums of Publishers of Spain in giving visibility to writers and ensuring their works reach readers.
In statements collected by the EFE agency, he affirmed that the award represents an honor "not only to myself but also to the culture to which I belong and in which I remain."
Born in Havana in 1955, Padura is one of the most internationally recognized contemporary Cuban writers. He is especially known for the novels featuring Mario Conde, a character through whom he has depicted the contradictions and transformations of Cuban society for decades.
Among his most well-known works are "Perfect Past," "Masks," "The Man Who Loved Dogs," "The Novel of My Life," "Heretics," and "Like Dust in the Wind."
His latest novel, "Morir en la arena," published by Tusquets in August 2025, was described by the author himself as his "saddest novel" and a "radiography of the last 33 years in Cuba."
Padura adds this recognition to an extensive list of awards, including the Princess of Asturias Award for Literature in 2015, the Cuban National Literature Award in 2012, the Roger Caillois Award, and the Pepe Carvalho Award for noir fiction in 2023.
In recent months, the writer has also maintained a critical perspective on the reality of the island. In April, he described Cubans as "impoverished, weary, hopeless", while in May, during the Buenos Aires Book Fair, he reiterated his decision to continue living in Cuba: "I will be here until they throw me out".
The Liber Prize has previously honored figures such as Isabel Allende, Elvira Lindo, and Santiago Muñoz Machado.
Padura will receive the award on September 30 at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC) in Barcelona, during the International Book Fair Liber 2026, which will take place from September 29 to October 1.
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