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Isabel Allende wins 2026 Planeta Prize for new novel
Chilean author Isabel Allende has won the 2026 Planeta Prize for her novel ‘La hora antes del alba’ (The Hour Before Dawn). The award, presented during a gala in Barcelona by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, includes a prize of one million euros.
Allende, 84, entered the competition under the pseudonym Luz Ventura and used the provisional title ‘Los que faltan’. The winning novel serves as a sequel to her iconic 1982 work, ‘La casa de los espíritus’ (The House of the Spirits), following the character Alba through the era of the Chilean dictatorship.
During her acceptance speech, Allende noted that she decided to participate despite her age because she felt there was “very little to lose.” She also connected the themes of her work to current global political climates, mentioning the threat of authoritarianism to democracies.
Spanish writer Sergio Hernández was named the finalist for the prize, receiving 200,000 euros for his historical novel ‘La añoranza’. The win also marks a significant editorial shift for Allende, who moves from Penguin Random House to the Planeta publishing group.
Entities
Barcelona · Felipe VI · Grupo Planeta · Isabel Allende · Juan del Val · King Felipe VI · Letizia · Pedro Regalado Rodríguez · Planeta · Premio Planeta · Sergio Hernández
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Allende submitted the work under the pseudonym Luz Ventura. www.farodevigo.es
- [● 2 SOURCES] The 2026 award marks the 75th anniversary of the Premio Planeta. www.divinity.es
- [● 2 SOURCES] The winning novel is titled ‘La hora antes del alba’. www.farodevigo.es
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Juan del Val was the winner of the 2025 Premio Planeta. www.divinity.es
- [● 2 SOURCES] Sergio Hernández was a finalist for ‘La añoranza’. www.farodevigo.es
- [● 2 SOURCES] The winner receives one million euros. www.farodevigo.es
- [● 2 SOURCES] Isabel Allende won the 2026 Premio Planeta. www.farodevigo.es
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The award edition saw more than 1,400 manuscripts submitted. www.divinity.es
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Premio Planeta prize includes 1 million euros. www.laregion.es · www.libertaddigital.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] A record 1,424 manuscripts were submitted for this edition. www.laregion.es · www.libertaddigital.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Sergio Hernández Carrasco was a finalist and will receive 200,000 euros for his work 'La añoranza'.
- [● 2 SOURCES] 'La hora antes del alba' is a chronological continuation of 'The House of the Spirits'. www.laregion.es · www.libertaddigital.com