Among the finalists is the Argentine writer Sofía Balbuena. After a reading and deliberation process that brought together a large number of manuscripts, the jury selected five titles that, according to the organization, stand out for their literary ambition, narrative solidity, and stylistic uniqueness. The 2026 edition once again demonstrates the international projection of the contest, with finalists from Argentina, Guatemala, Mexico, Spain, and Peru, and a marked prominence of women authors, who represent the majority of the chosen candidates. The finalist works are: 'Secondary Character' by Sofía Balbuena; 'Water the Mouth' by the Guatemalan Rodrigo Fuentes; 'The End of the World (and Other Utopias)' by the Mexican Aura García-Junco; 'The Firm Root of Things' by the Spanish Margarita Leoz; and 'The Terrible Fear of Being an Animal' by the Peruvian Claudia Ulloa Donoso. The decision will be announced on March 19 at a press conference to be held at the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid and can be followed by streaming. On the same day, at 19:00, a virtual meeting will be held with the winner and the head of the jury. The organization also announced that accreditation for covering the announcement and requesting interviews with any of the finalists is now available.
