The Provincial Council of Jaén opens the IV edition of the Jaenícolas Awards

The Provincial Council of Jaén, through its Area of Equality, Social Policies, and Youth, has opened the call for the fourth edition of the 2026 Jaenícolas Awards, honorary awards intended to recognize the talent, work, and trajectory of the province’s youth. The call is published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Jaén number 169, dated September 1, 2026, via Resolution number 1112, of August 26, 2026, signed by the delegated deputy of the area, Pilar Parra Ruiz.

The awards, which are exclusively honorary and carry no financial endowment, seek to give visibility to the youth of Jaén as a motor for change and progress, while promoting real equality between women and men. Eligible applicants include young people between 14 and 35 years old registered in any municipality of the province, as well as associations, collectives, and non-profit entities primarily composed of young people from Jaén.

Ten categories for young talent

The call includes ten modalities ranging from sports to digital creation, as well as research and entrepreneurship:

• Sports: trajectory, achievements, and the promotion of grassroots sports and the values of effort.
• Sports for Equality: initiatives that promote gender equality, inclusion, and diversity.
• Art: creators in painting, sculpture, design, illustration, and performing or visual arts.
• Music: performers, composers, groups, and projects that disseminate the musical heritage of Jaén.
• Associationism: youth associations and collectives committed to participation and the associative fabric.
• Research: innovative projects in the scientific, technological, or social fields.
• Youth Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development: business, cooperative, or self-employment initiatives aligned with the SDGs of the 2030 Agenda.
• Content Creation and Social Networks: YouTubers, streamers, TikTokers, and influencers with a positive social impact.
• Local Jaenícola Award: distinction for the most outstanding youth initiative in the municipality hosting the gala, proposed by its City Council.
• LGBTBI Diversity and Inclusion Award: commitment to equality, affective-sexual diversity, and the defense of LGBTBI rights.

How to participate and deadlines

Candidacies may be submitted by the interested person themselves, any natural or legal person, or institutions, educational centers, and associations. Each participant may apply for one or several categories, although no more than one award may be accumulated per applicant, and candidacies already awarded in previous editions in the same modality are excluded.

Submission shall be made exclusively through the electronic office of the Provincial Council, on the website https://www.jaenicolas.es/premios-jaenicolas/, using the standardized form in Annex I, completed and digitally signed. The deadline is 20 business days starting from the day following the publication of the summary of the rules in the BOP.

Jury and evaluation

A jury presided over by the Deputy for Equality and Youth, and composed of technical staff from the area and an external advisor, will evaluate each candidacy with a score from 1 to 5 based on criteria such as social and territorial impact, originality, impact on youth, commitment to equality and sustainability, continuity, and technical quality. The jury may declare any of the categories void if deemed appropriate.

The award winners will become part of the “Jaenícola” Young Talent Network of the Youth Area, a space for collaboration and visibility of the creative, social, and professional potential of the youth of Jaén. The award resolution will be published in the BOP and on the institutional website.

With this fourth edition, the Provincial Council consolidates a recognition that places the young people of the province at the center of the public agenda, rewarding not only individual merit but also the collective commitment to equality, sustainability, and diversity, at a time when young talent is emerging as key to the economic and social development of Jaén.

Source: Official Gazette of the Province of Jaén, number 169, September 1, 2026, Local Administration, page 13173 (official reference: BOP-2026-4072).