The Vice-Minister of Social Welfare, Francisco Candil, and the Mayor of Gáldar, Teodoro Sosa, have invited the public to attend the 2026 Canary Youth Awards ceremony, to be held this Friday at the Guaires Cultural Center. Both highlighted the importance of these awards in recognizing the commitment of Canary youth.
Invitations for the gala, which aims to showcase and reward the talent and positive actions of young people and social groups, can be processed via the website: https://www.tureservaonline.es/es/events/acto-de-entrega-de-los-premios-joven-canarias-2026.
Francisco Candil emphasized Gáldar's commitment to youth, stating that the awards have become a benchmark for highlighting and recognizing the fundamental role of young people and social collectives, especially in the digital age.
For his part, the Mayor of Gáldar expressed his pride in hosting the event and congratulated the awardees, underscoring that Canary youth represent the present that transforms society. The City Council applauds their effort and dedication.
The Director General of Youth of the Government of the Canary Islands, Daniel Morales, noted that this edition marks a new era for the awards, featuring a renewed artistic proposal to showcase life stories and collectives that positively contribute to the Canary Islands.
The Councillor of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Olaia Morán, welcomed the island's selection for the gala and reaffirmed the Cabildo's pride in collaborating and valuing the work of young people, stressing the need for institutions to support and recognize their achievements.
At the presentation, the Artistic Director, Orlando Callero, detailed the content of the show planned for the ceremony.
The gala will be hosted by Lorenzo de Vera and Paula Ojeda, with an artistic prelude titled “Somos nubes” (We are clouds), narrated by Javier Ortega, Andrea Zoghbi, and Mingo Ávila. Musical direction is by Samuel Fumero, featuring the voices of Saray Castro and Marey Martín, and the dance troupe led by choreographer Yure Molina.
This year's edition received 65 nominations. The jury, chaired by Almudena Díaz Castro and with Manuel Ortego Sánchez as secretary, awarded main distinctions and two honorable mentions.
In the ‘8 Islas’ (8 Islands) category, the award went to the Canary Students Union (UDECA) from Tenerife, for its over three-decade trajectory in defending student rights and promoting youth associationism.
The award in the Collective category was presented to the educational association NoPor OnSex from Gran Canaria, for its educational and community work addressing the influence of pornography and digital culture on youth sexuality.
The Individual category recognized Cristina Martel Martín from Lanzarote, for her career as a nurse, international aid worker, and promoter of solidarity projects, founder of the Asociación Tempoko.
An honorable mention in the Collective category was awarded to the Association of People with Disabilities of Lanzarote (ADISLAN), for its work in promoting the autonomy and inclusion of young people with intellectual disabilities.
The Individual honorable mention went to Sabah Oualit Quensi from Tenerife, for her commitment to the inclusion and improvement of the quality of life for deaf people in the Canary Islands, and her work as president of the Association of Deaf People of Tenerife (ASORTE).
