José María Micó wins 2026 Alfonso Reyes International Prize

Barcelona-born poet and philologist José María Micó is the recipient of the 2026 Alfonso Reyes International Prize, as announced by the Secretariat of Culture and the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL). The jury highlighted Micó's "ecumenical character" and his rigorous work spanning research, essay writing, translation, and creative endeavors, aligning with the spirit of Alfonso Reyes. Micó shared his profound emotion upon receiving the news, recalling how his interest in poetry, particularly that of Luis de Góngora, began in 1980. He recognized that Reyes had anticipated the work of the '27 Generation poets through his insightful essays and studies. Winning a prize established in Reyes's memory, and one with a laureate list including literary giants like Jorge Luis Borges, Octavio Paz, and Ida Vitale, is an experience Micó finds difficult to articulate. He reflected that his younger self intuited that the path illuminated by such distinguished writers was the correct one. The award celebrates Micó's significant contributions to literature and scholarship.

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His profile manifests the character ecumenical of the award, respecting the rigor of his work in different areas, both in research and essay, as in translation and creation, in tune with Alfonso Reyes.