The City Council of Seville has announced the honorees of the Velá de Santa Ana 2026. Cantores de Híspalis, Lola de los Reyes and Cuchillería Castilla are among those celebrated in the oldest festival of the city, which will take place from July 14 to 26.
The Velá de Santa Ana 2026 now has its notable names. The City Council of Seville revealed this Wednesday the list of awards that will be presented during the oldest festival in the Andalusian capital, which this year will be held from July 14 to 26. Among the honorees are the group Cantores de Híspalis, receiving a special distinction for their artistic career coinciding with their 50th anniversary; the singer Lola de los Reyes, named Adoptive Trianera; and the iconic Cuchillería Castilla, recognized as Honorary Trianera.
The awards, which are given each year as part of the Velá, acknowledge individuals, entities, and businesses linked to the Triana neighbourhood. The delegate of the Triana District and Major Festivals, Manuel Alés, highlighted that the awardees represent "the best of Triana" and have contributed to enhancing the name of the neighbourhood from very different fields.
Honorary Trianeros: from art to cutlery
The Honorary Trianeros category recognises those who have dedicated their lives to the neighbourhood. This year, the honorees are guitarist Joselito Acedo, foreman Manuel Jesús Garduño Lara, the elder brother of El Cachorro, José Luis Aldea Carbajo, and Cuchillería Castilla, represented by Enrique González. Also receiving this distinction are Juan Carlos Sánchez Rivero, Carmen Coronado, and Esteban Romera Domínguez, for their connection and contribution to the neighbourhood.
For the residents of Triana, these names are part of the everyday landscape. Cuchillería Castilla, for example, is a historic business that has been on San Jacinto street for decades, and its recognition as Honorary Trianero is a nod to traditional commerce, the kind that withstands large retail chains.
Trianeros of the Year and Adoptive: journalism, hospitality, and art
The recognition as Trianeros of the Year goes to two journalists: José Antonio Rodríguez Benítez, the announcer of Holy Week in Seville 2026, and Alejandra Navarro González de la Higuera, deputy director of ABC de Sevilla. Both have been distinguished for their educational work and their roots in the neighbourhood.
In the Adoptive Trianeros category, the City Council has awarded Jessica Brea Morillo, Sebas Amaya (from bar Akela), and Lola de los Reyes. The singer, originally from Huelva but closely linked to Triana, has been recognised for her flamenco career. Sebas Amaya, on the other hand, runs one of the most popular bars on Betis street, a meeting point for locals and tourists.
The list of awards is completed with the Instituto Vicente Aleixandre, which receives the Honourable Institution; Pipas Sevillanas, represented by Paco Arias, distinguished for its Business Trajectory; the ceramist Jesús Alcarazo Velasco, who receives the Niculoso Pisano Award; and Hogar Nazaret, recognised with the Solidarity Award.
Programme: Cucaña, concerts, and tradition
The Velá de Santa Ana 2026 will kick off on July 14 with the inauguration of the photographic exhibition Triana and its people, portrait of a neighbourhood, by Juan Romero Prieto, at the Civic Centre Las Columnas, where it will be open until July 31. Throughout the days, traditional events such as the procession of the Virgen del Carmen, the petanque tournament, the aquathlon around Altozano and the Guadalquivir, and the popular Cucaña, which will be celebrated again from July 22 to 26 on Betis street.
The sports section will include competitions in beach handball, seven-a-side football, indoor football, paddle, pickleball, dominoes, social running, fishing, and the Night Regatta. In terms of music, the Velá will feature performances by Cantores de Híspalis and Luitingo, among other artists. The concerts will be distributed across various stages in the neighbourhood, with free access for all audiences.
For the residents, the Velá is much more than a festival: it is an opportunity to reconnect with traditions, to see children playing the cucaña, and to enjoy performances in the street. And this year, with awardees that reflect the diversity of the neighbourhood, the event promises to be especially emotional. The City Council recommends checking the complete programme on the Triana District website to not miss any events.
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