Max Awards: Canary Islands Finalists Announced, Sáhara Leads Nominations
Canary Islands productions have been named finalists for the 29th Max Awards for Performing Arts, Spain's leading theater and dance honors, with Sáhara. La barca del desierto securing six nominations for the 2026 awards ceremony on June 1st in Mérida, which now features 22 categories.
The 29th Max Awards for Performing Arts, Spain's most important theater and dance awards, have announced the Canary Islands productions chosen as finalists for the 2026 awards. According to the General Society of Authors and Publishers (SGAE), the ceremony will be held on June 1st at the famous Roman Theater of Mérida.
This year, the awards are expanding to 22 categories. Organized by the SGAE Foundation since 1998, with a trophy designed by Joan Brossa, they now include two new distinctions: Best Theater Ensemble and Best Dance Ensemble. This change shows a growing focus on recognizing teamwork in theater and dance. Additionally, creators nominated for the Best Revelation Authorship award can also compete in the main categories for playwriting or choreography. There are also three special awards: the Max of Honor, the Max Audience Applause, and the Amateur or Social Max, which this year will specifically highlight amateur work.
Among the entries from the Canary Islands, the play Sáhara. La barca del desierto, by Unahoramenosproducciones, stands out as one of the strongest national contenders, earning six nominations. These nominations include Best Theater Show, Best Playwriting and Best Direction for Mario Vega, Best Actress for Marta Viera, Best Lighting Design for Eduardo Vizuete, and Best Musical Composition for Héctor Muñoz.
In the musical and opera categories, two Canary Islands productions have been selected: El cabaret de los hombres perdidos, by the company of the same name, and La reina de las nieves, by Servicios Artísticos Insulares. Meanwhile, Polígono, from La Escrig Producciones, is nominated in three categories: Best Revelation Authorship for Rosa Escrig, Best Stage Space and Video Scene Design for Adrià Pinar, and an award for the production company itself for its work.