Galicia is gearing up for one of its major musical events of the fall. The PALCO Awards have announced 42 finalists; the awards ceremony will be held on November 3 in Santiago de Compostela, and a public vote is now open to recognize the best audience experience at concerts and festivals.
There’s something we almost never see when we go to a concert.
Behind the stage, the lights, the sound, and that moment when thousands of people sing a song at the same time, there is a whole world of professionals who make live music possible.
Producers, technicians, promoters, managers, lighting designers, communications directors, and dozens of other people whose work rarely makes the headlines.
The 2026 PALCO Awards aim to change that.
The second edition of the Galician Music Industry Awards—now known as the PALCO Awards—has announced its 42 finalists, spread across 14 categories.
Among the nominees are projects associated with names such as The Rapants, Tanxugueiras, Xoel López, Carlos Ares, Bala, Fillas de Cassandra, and Mondra, as well as festivals such as Resurrection Fest, PortAmérica, and Sinsal.
But this year there’s a new development that directly affects the fans.
The public can also participate and choose which concert, festival, venue, or musical project deserves recognition for the experience it offers its attendees.
Voting is open until October 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
How to Vote in the 2026 PALCO Awards
The Award for Excellence in Audience Experience recognizes something that any fan understands perfectly: that a great concert doesn’t depend solely on what happens on stage.
Organization, accessibility, attention to attendees, services, atmosphere, and attention to detail are also important.
To participate, simply fill out the official form and submit a proposal for a festival, concert, venue, or music project.
Here are the conditions:
- Last day to vote: October 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
- Participation: One vote per person.
- Submissions: Each participant may submit only one project.
- Giveaway: Two tickets to attend the gala will be raffled off among the valid entries.
VOTE HERE FOR THE 2026 PALCO AWARDS
An opportunity to recognize those venues and events that turn a night of music into a special memory.
The Rapants stand out among the nominees
If there’s one name that keeps cropping up on the list of finalists, it’s The Rapants.
The Galician group is represented by various professionals and projects related to its live performances.
Álvaro Moreno is up for an award for lighting design; Ricardo Barroso, for sound design; the Rapants Club team, for stage direction; and the music video for “Non sei como” is also among the finalists.
It’s a good example of what these awards are all about.
It’s not just about recognizing a band for its songs.
The goal is to evaluate everything that helps those songs reach the audience in the best possible way.
And that distinction is particularly relevant in an era when concerts and festivals have become an essential part of the relationship between artists and their fans.
Tanxugueiras, Xoel López, and Carlos Ares: Galician music is also recognized in the studio
The awards also recognize achievements in music production.
Three albums by artists with very different musical styles are in the running for Best Album.
On one side, Iago Pico, Gabi Fernández, and Tanxugueiras, representing O Cuarto.
On the other hand, Xoel López and Adrián Seijas, representing Oniria Popular.
And rounding out the category are Dani Cornes and Crnds, with *Aquí sempre tes casa*.
The diversity of these acts reflects one of the most interesting aspects of the Galician music scene: its ability to develop projects that blend tradition, pop, experimentation, and contemporary sounds.
Professionals associated with Bala and Carlos Ares are also among the finalists for best sound.
A way to remember that an artist’s musical identity is also shaped in the studio, through arrangements, and through technical decisions.
Resurrection Fest, PortAmérica, and Osa do Mar: Three Ways to Think About a Festival
The Best Cultural or Musical Event category features three very different projects:
Resurrection Fest, PortAmérica, and Osa do Mar.
Resurrection Fest showcases the international scene of rock and metal in Galicia.
PortAmérica has created an event where music blends with other cultural and culinary experiences.
Osa do Mar, for its part, champions a different kind of festival, one that is rooted in its surroundings and characterized by a unique way of connecting with the audience.
There are three different types of events.
And that is precisely what makes this category so interesting.
Because the quality of a festival shouldn’t be measured solely by the size of its lineup.
Their personality, their ability to connect with the local community, and the experience they offer to attendees are also important.
Music videos, venues, and sustainability also receive awards
The PALCO Awards are broadening their focus to include other fundamental elements of contemporary music.
” Mejor Videoclip ” features works by Karmento, Mondra, El Nido, Candela Liste, and The Rapants.
In the ” Best Music Venue” category, the nominees are A Cofradía Taberna Cultural, Mardi Gras, and Sala Rebullón.
And the nominees for Best Sustainability Project are Arteficial, PortAmérica, and Sinsal.
This last category is particularly significant.
Sustainability is no longer a secondary concern for music events. The relationship with the environment, the resources used, and the impact of festivals are all part of an increasingly important conversation within the industry.
Recognizing these projects means broadening our understanding of what it means to organize a musical event well.
When and where will the 2026 PALCO Awards be held?
The gala will take place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at the Sala Capitol in Santiago de Compostela.
This will be the second edition of the Galician Music Industry Awards and the first to be held under the name PALCO.
In addition to the awards in the 14 general categories and the People’s Choice Award, special honors will be announced for Artist of the Year and Person of the Year, selected by the board of directors of the Galician Association of Music Companies (AGEM).
The awards are part of PALCO, the new Galician music industry event, which will take place November 3–5 in Santiago de Compostela.
The initiative, spearheaded by AGEM and the Xunta de Galicia through Agadic and Concertos do Xacobeo, with the support of the A Coruña Provincial Council, will bring together industry professionals to share knowledge, network, and develop new opportunities for collaboration.
For more information, visit palco.gal.
Galicia wants to recognize those who make its music possible
In recent years, Galician music has shown that it can connect with a wide variety of audiences without losing its identity.
But behind that evolution, there is much more than just artists and songs.
Some theaters are embracing new concepts.
Festivals that build communities.
Experts who turn a performance into an experience.
Producers who help find a sound.
And professionals who work to ensure that music reaches an ever-wider audience.
The PALCO Awards aim to recognize the individuals behind that work by name.
And, through the public vote, they also invite viewers to be part of the recognition.
Because we all remember a concert that changed us one night.
But we rarely stop to think about how many people it took to make it happen.
This year, the Galician public has the opportunity to thank them.
Voting for the 2026 PALCO Awards will remain open until October 27 at 11:59 p.m.
FINALISTS FOR THE 2026 PALCO AWARDS
The initiatives and professionals nominated in the various general categories of the 2026 PALCO Awards are:
Better Lighting Design
Álvaro Moreno (The Rapants)
Gabriel Alvarado (Treixadura)
Laura Iturralde and José Faro (Gala and Ovidio)
Improved sound implementation
Nerea Bello (Bala)
Ricardo Barroso (The Rapants)
Rubén Montes (Carlos Ares)
Improved Service Delivery
Emsac
Global Setup
Kachet
Best Production Professional
Adela Otero
María Galdón
Olalla Camaño
Best Manager
Aitana Cuétara (Luneda)
Álvaro Creo (Off Stage)
Alberto Lora & Carles Montalt (Galunk)
Best Album Production
Dani Cornes and Crnds (You’ll Always Have a Home Here, Dani Cornes)
Iago Pico, Gabi Fernández, and Tanxugueiras (O Cuarto, Tanxugueiras)
Xoel López and Adrián Seijas (Oniria Popular, Xoel López)
Best Staging
As dúas e punto (Tertulia, Fillas de Cassandra)
Laura Iturralde and José Faro (Gala and Ovidio)
The Rapants Crew (Rapants Club)
Best Developer / Programmer
Alberto Alfonso (Art Music Agency)
David Pedrouzo (Todomedre)
Suso Santamaría and Iván Viturro (A Pousada da Galiza Imaxinaria)
Best Communication Project
EmigraSON
Lucía Pita (Tertulia, Daughters of Cassandra)
PortAmérica
Better visual identity
Julia Salgado Barca, Mar Suárez, and Agustina Shuan (Anfibia at times, Antía Muíño)
Melania Freire (From Ninghures)
Zeltia Iglesias (Mondra)
Best Music Video
Daniel Pérez, “El Membrillo” (Subir Subir, Karmento & Mondra ft. El Nido)
Daniela Rey Faraldo (Simply, Candela Liste)
Juan Barbazán, Sergio Goce, and Manuel Seoane (Non sei como, The Rapants)
Best Cultural/Musical Event
AC Fanto Fantini – Osa do Mar
PortAmérica
Resurrection Fest
Best Music Venue
To the Cofradía Taberna Cultural
Mardi Gras
Rebullón Hall
Best Sustainability Project
Artificial
PortAmérica
Sinsal
