Literary honors awarded to Héctor Vera Azargado and Pablo Medina

Chilean writer Héctor Vera Azargado has been selected for the 2026 official anthology of the New York International Book Fair (FILNYC). His three poems were chosen from a pool of 342 manuscripts, making him one of 28 authors included in the poetry category for the event, which is considered a primary Spanish-language literary gathering in the United States.

In a separate literary distinction, Cuban-American author Pablo Medina will receive the 2026 ‘La Avellaneda’ Medal in New York. The award, presented by the Cuban Cultural Center of New York in collaboration with the Instituto Cervantes, recognizes Medina’s extensive career in poetry, novels, memoirs, and translation. Medina, a professor emeritus at Emerson College, is noted for his work exploring identity and exile, having published numerous collections in both English and Spanish.