The Miguel de Cervantes Prize (Spanish: Premio de Literatura en Lengua Castellana Miguel de Cervantes) is given every year to honor a writer's lifetime work in the Spanish language. The Encyclopædia Britannica describes it as the "most prestigious and well-paid award for Spanish-language literature."

History

The Cervantes Prize was created in 1975 by the Ministry of Culture of Spain and first given out the next year. The winner receives a money prize of 125,000 euros, making it one of the wealthiest literary prizes in the world. The prize is open to authors from any Spanish-speaking country and honors their entire body of work. Out of the 47 prizes awarded in the history of the Cervantes Prize, only 6 have gone to women. In 1988, María Zambrano (1904–1991), a Spanish writer, became the first woman to win the prize. The award is named after Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote. Candidates for the prize are suggested by the Association of Spanish Language Academies, which is also known as the Royal Spanish Academy.

As of the 2024 award given to Álvaro Pombo, winners have been recognized for writing novels, poetry, short stories, essays, translations, philosophy, or dramas—or for a mix of these forms. In 1979, two people won the prize, and since its creation, 50 individuals have received the Miguel de Cervantes Prize. Three of these 50 winners have also received the Nobel Prize in Literature. Octavio Paz won the Cervantes Prize in 1981 and the Nobel Prize in 1990. Mario Vargas Llosa received the Cervantes Prize in 1994 and the Nobel Prize in 2010. Camilo José Cela was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1989 and the Cervantes Prize in 1995.