Arantxa Rufo to Headline Barcelona Book Event Amid 2026 Crime Novel Award Race
Author Arantxa Rufo will headline a Sant Jordi book signing in Barcelona on April 23rd, the same day she competes for the 2026 Ciudad de Santa Cruz Crime Novel Award.
April 23rd will be a major day for crime fiction as the genre bridges the gap between Barcelona and the Canary Islands. Author Arantxa Rufo is set to headline a book signing in Barcelona as part of the Lloret Negre 2026 festival. Due to ongoing construction on the Ramblas, the event has moved to a new location at 429 Avenida Diagonal, between Aribau and Enrique Granados streets.
Rufo’s appearance during the Sant Jordi festivities comes at a pivotal moment in her career. That same day, the winner of the 2026 Ciudad de Santa Cruz Crime Novel Award—a prestigious honor supported by the Tenerife Noir Festival—will be announced. The competition is fierce, with Rufo nominated alongside notable suspense writers such as Santiago Díaz, Annika Brunke, and Eugenio Fuentes.
This overlap highlights the strength of the crime fiction community, which is increasingly finding ways to connect specialized festivals with major literary events. The relocation of Sant Jordi activities to the Les Corts district has provided a new platform for authors like Rufo to engage directly with readers while simultaneously competing for top literary honors.