Giralt Torrente wins the XXI Dulce Chacón Prize with Los ilusionistas

Writer Marcos Giralt Torrente is the winner of the XXI Dulce Chacón Prize for Spanish Narrative with the novel «Los ilusionistas», according to the resolution published by the Official Gazette of the Province of Badajoz number 218, dated November 13, 2026, in announcement 4500/2026. The decision was adopted by the final jury on September 26, 2026, and is formalized by the Provincial Council of Badajoz, which grants the author 9,000 euros and a reproduction of the statuette «El abrazo». The resolution is signed by the provincial president, Raquel del Puerto Carrasco.

Regulatory framework of the call

The resolution is issued under article 34.1 of Law 7/1985, of April 2, on the Bases of the Local Regime, and is based on the regulatory bases of the contest, published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Badajoz number 54, dated March 20, 2026. The file incorporates the minutes of the final jury, which record the proposed verdict after evaluating the finalist works according to the voting process provided for in the eighth base.

The award is listed in the Strategic Grant Plan of the Provincial Council of Badajoz for 2026 (announcement 4250/2026, bulletin number 206, dated October 27, 2026), within the objective of supporting culture in the provincial area, as a public call endowed with 9,000 euros.

The final jury’s verdict

The jury awarded «Los ilusionistas» a total of 48 points, the highest score granted in the meeting held on September 26, 2026, as recorded in the minutes. It was previously verified that the work complies with the requirements established in the regulatory bases of the prize.

In its considerations, the jury believes that the novel fictionally narrates the intricacies and relationships of the maternal branch of the author’s own family, throughout the historical development of the country from the Second Republic to the present, and agrees in highlighting the great literary quality, the elegance of the style, the intimate theme, and the courage of the work’s approach.

The winning work and the endowment

• Winning work: «Los ilusionistas», by Marcos Giralt Torrente, published in 2025 by the publishing house Anagrama.
• Economic endowment: 9,000.00 euros, with the current IRPF (income tax) reduction.
• Artistic recognition: a reproduction of the statuette «El abrazo», a work by Iñaki Martínez Sáiz, in accordance with the fourth base of the call.
• Final jury score: 48 points.

Transfers, processing, and delivery

The resolution orders the agreement to be transferred to the author and to three functional areas of the provincial corporation so that they may adopt the necessary execution measures, in addition to communicating it to the Plenary in its next session:

• Area of Cultural Identity, Sports, and Youth.
• Area of Social Welfare and International Cooperation.
• Area of Sustainable Economy, Strategic Procurement, and Heritage.

The Plenary Session of the Provincial Council of Badajoz held on September 30, 2026, already echoed the ruling (announcement 3853/2026, bulletin number 190, of October 5, 2026): the president congratulated the writer, thanked the involvement of the final jury and the popular jury, and announced that the award presentation will take place in Olivenza before the end of the year.

Impact on the Extremaduran book sector

The publication of the ruling in the official bulletin definitively formalizes the decision of a competition that is a benchmark for Spanish-language narrative and for the region’s publishing fabric. The economic and protocol support of the provincial institution reinforces the projection of the award-winning work and consolidates the prize’s position in the province’s cultural calendar, with the presentation scheduled in Olivenza as the next public milestone.

Source: Official Gazette of the Province of Badajoz, number 218, of November 13, 2026, Local Administration (Provincial Councils), page 2 (official reference: announcement 4500/2026).