The Consell de Ibiza has opened the 2026 edition of the Joan Castelló Guasch Prize, an annual award recognising works of literary prose and theatre published in Catalan.
Now in its 21st edition, the prize honours the legacy of Joan Castelló Guasch, the Ibizan writer, folklorist and editor whose work played an important role in documenting the culture and traditions of Ibiza and Formentera.
A Prize Celebrating Ibiza’s Literary Heritage
Joan Castelló Guasch was born in Ibiza in 1911 and died in Palma in 1984.
He became particularly known for his collections of Ibizan and Formenteran folk tales, as well as El Pitiuso, an almanac that documented aspects of life and culture in the Pitiusas.
He also wrote tourist guides and contributed to the local press, where his work covered subjects including language, society, the local economy and popular culture.
The prize was created in 2002, originally with the aim of recognising literary creation, particularly short-story works submitted by their authors.
A New Feature for 2026
One of the main changes in this year's edition is that the prize will now also recognise the publisher of the winning work.
The total prize fund is €4,000, divided equally between the author and the publishing house.
The winning author will receive €2,000, while the publisher responsible for the winning publication will receive another €2,000.
The change recognises not only the person who creates the work but also the role of publishers in bringing literary projects to readers.
Who Can Enter?
The 2026 competition is open to publishers with a registered tax address on the island of Ibiza.
They can submit works of literary prose or dramatic literature written in Catalan, provided the works were edited, published and distributed between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2025.
The publications must also have a Legal Deposit number.
The authors of the submitted works must demonstrate that they had been resident in Ibiza for at least three years at the time the work was published.
Deadline for Submissions
Publishers wishing to participate have until September 18, 2026 to submit their works.
The official competition rules were published in BOIB number 108 on August 29, 2026, and are also available through the electronic headquarters of the Consell de Ibiza.
Keeping Local Literature in Focus
The Joan Castelló Guasch Prize forms part of Ibiza's wider effort to support and preserve the island's literary and cultural heritage.
By focusing on works published in Catalan and authors connected to Ibiza, the award also provides recognition for contemporary writing rooted in the island's cultural community.
The addition of the publisher award this year expands that recognition to another part of the literary process.
With the 2026 call now open, local publishers have until September 18 to put forward eligible works for the XXI Joan Castelló Guasch Prize.
