The 39th Goya Awards will premiere in Granada on February 8, as announced this Wednesday by the leadership of the Spanish Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Fernando Méndez-Leite, the academy’s president, shared the plan for a gala that recognizes Spanish cinema and will unfold in the Andalusian capital, with Granada serving as the host city this year.
Speaking alongside Granada’s mayor, Marifrán Carazo, Méndez-Leite confirmed that a slate of parallel events is already being organized to accompany the main ceremony. These will travel with the awards, returning to Valladolid for the latest edition’s headquarters while Granada simultaneously prepares a rich program of side activities in the months ahead. The academy intends to illuminate the city with a string of cultural offerings that complement the central event.
In addition to the PCongress Hall, which will stage the award night, the academy plans to utilize Granada’s most emblematic spaces for pre-events and even venues related to the gala itself. The objective is to showcase Granada at full strength, including scenic spots such as the San Nicolás viewpoint, which offers a famous overlook of the city. The hosting plan includes maximizing the use of these unique corners to create a memorable backdrop for the celebration.
Méndez-Leite did not reveal every detail of the gala, noting that it is a very complex undertaking featuring 27 awards presented over a long show, with musical numbers sometimes assembled piece by piece. He mentioned that some decisions were not finalized until the final weeks leading up to the event, underscoring the scale and coordination required.
There will soon be a meeting with the gala hosts, as journalists pressed for information. Méndez-Leite reflected on the successful choice of Ana Belén and the Javives as hosts for the previous edition, describing it as a great idea that worked very well and was received positively. The response from audiences and critics alike has influenced ongoing planning for the next edition.
The academy is coordinating with the Granada City Council to deliver an edition that aims to be among the best in the history of the awards, targeting 2025 as a standout year. Preparations include a year-long program of activities leading to the gala, with exhibitions, screenings of nominated films, meetings with actors, directors, and technicians, and educational events for children. The intent is to bring Spanish cinema to every corner of the city and engage a broad audience across the region.
In a bold statement, Méndez-Leite emphasized Granada’s ambition to promote the Goya Awards while aligning with the city’s effort to pursue European Capital of Culture status in 2031. The two projects are interlinked in a shared drive to elevate Granada’s profile on national and international stages, with the academy and city officials working in tandem toward that vision. The sentiment about the collaboration was clear, and the momentum was described as a key driver for the city’s cultural strategy in the coming years. [Cita: Academia de Cine]
It is noted that this marks the fifth time that academy members and the City Council have met to discuss the gala’s organization, which will take place at the central Congress Palace. Adjustments are expected to accommodate a larger audience and to allow for an expanded script that can better capture the show’s scale. Méndez-Leite indicated that planning would continue to evolve as the preparations advance.
The mayor highlighted the importance of projecting Granada’s image through Spanish cinema, noting that the Goya Awards now reach beyond expectations and stimulate national and international interest. Méndez-Leite agreed, describing the festival as a growing force that has started to take bold steps in recent years and will continue to push the city’s cultural footprint forward.
The upcoming edition will be the eighth time the awards are hosted outside Madrid, a sign of the Awards’ broader geographic reach. Previously, the Goyas have traveled to cities including Barcelona, Malaga, Valencia, Seville, and Valladolid. This next chapter places Granada in a select group of hosts while reinforcing Spain’s cinematic landscape on multiple fronts. [Cita: Academia de Cine]
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