Barcelona was the setting for a major night in Catalan letters on 8 June 2026, when poet and journalist Biel Mesquida Amengual received the Premi d'Honor de les Lletres Catalanes at the Palau de la Música Catalana.
The ceremony, organised by Òmnium Cultural, included a rare public performance by Lluís Llach, who returned to the piano after nearly two decades. He performed Viatge a Itaca, a piece inspired by the Greek poet Constantine P. Cavafy, whose work Mesquida had introduced to him years ago.
The modernist venue in the Sant Pere, Santa Caterina i la Ribera neighbourhood was dressed with banners reading “Poesia és lluita”. Mesquida wore a shirt with the same slogan and received a strong ovation. Llach, who is from Verges, also spoke about Mesquida’s influence, while Mesquida replied from the stage, “Do not let go, Lluís.”
Other tributes came from Janksy and Blanca Llum Vidal, who recited Trast, while editor, translator and poet Antoni Clapés said Mesquida had made poetry “a space of resistance”. Actress Pepa López read from Els missatgers no arriben mai, Mesquida’s first theatrical work. Maria del Mar Bonet appeared with Borja Penalba, and they performed Blaus i sol de roses blanques by Blai Bonet.
The evening also brought in newer voices. Adrià Targa read Lluita de classes from El bell país on els homes desitgen els homes, and Mireia Calafell read Carpe momentum. Òmnium president Xavier Antich said the award was about defending language, culture and identity, and argued for more Catalan language and culture for everyone.
Mesquida, born in Castelló de la Plana and with Mallorcan family roots, has long ties to Barcelona, where he studied. His acceptance speech touched on teachers, censorship, migrants, science, culture and the freedom to think, live and love. He ended by telling the audience: “Live, love, and enjoy in peace.”
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