The 27th Critics' Prize, framed within the XXX Jerez Festival, this year has been the show Maidens (Permanent revelry), who has starred in the Estévez & Paños Company and that was performed on February 24, 2026 in the Villamarta Theatre.
This recognition, which since 1999 has been jointly organized by the Chair of FlamencoHistory and Folklore Studies of Jerez and the Sherry Wine Regulatory CouncilThe award was granted through votes cast by critics and journalists accredited to the Jerez Festival, who evaluate the various shows presented at the Teatro Villamarta. This year, a total of eleven votes, achieving victory in the spectacle of Maidens (Permanent revelry).
The group of artists led by Rafael Estévez and Valeriano Paños has won a critics' award at the festival for the first time, having previously only achieved the Revelation Award in 2008, coinciding with the company's inception. Flamenco XXI. Opera, coffee, and cigar.
Maidens (Permanent revelry), whose title is taken from Poem of the Cante Jondo de Federico Garcia Lorca, uses the guitarist's sonic universe Ramon Montoya to create a show in which, as is usual in each of his creations, we not only find a great deal of research work, but also a clear commitment to dance, which appears in all its aspects.
Rafael Estévez expressed his satisfaction at having won the Critics' Award for the first time, saying, "It's very important for us," and because it was a premiere for the company. In this production, Estévez and Valeriano Paños collaborated with seven dancers. José Alarcón, Jesús Bergel, Pol Martínez, Manuel Montes, Jorge Morera, Jesús Perona y Yoel VargasThe songs by Ramón Montoya will be performed by the guitarist. Alejandro Hurtado, which has also won the Best Musical Performance Award at the XXX Jerez Festival.
The Chair of FlamencoThe Jerez Folklore and Studies Association and the Regulatory Council would like to thank, once again, the critics who attend the Jerez Festival for their willingness and support towards this award.
"The 27th Critics' Prize, framed within the XXX Jerez FestivalThis year's award went to the show Doncellas (Juerga permanente), starring the Estévez & Paños Company, which was performed on February 24, 2026 at the Villamarta Theatre."
List of award winners since its launch in Jerez
YEAR 1999. Antonio El Pipa (Generations)
YEAR 2000. Antonio Márquez (Reunions/After Carmen)
YEAR 2001. Sara Baras (Juana the Mad)
YEAR 2002. Antonio Gades Company (Fuenteovejuna)
YEAR 2003. Javier Latorre Company (Rinconete and Cortadillo)
YEAR 2004. José de Udaeta (The Secret of the Castanets)
YEAR 2005. Antonio Márquez (The Three-Cornered Hat, Zapateado, and Ravel's Bolero)
YEAR 2006. Joaquín Grilo (Alone)
YEAR 2007. Mercedes Ruiz (Juncá)
YEAR 2008. Mario Maya (Women)
YEAR 2009. Rocío Molina (Oro Viejo)
YEAR 2010. Joaquín Grilo (Personal Legend)
YEAR 2011. Mercedes Ruiz (Perspectives)
YEAR 2012. Marco Flores (From Flamencas)
YEAR 2013. Isabel Bayón (Whims of Time)
YEAR 2014. Belén Maya (The Guests)
YEAR 2015. Israel Galván (Fla.co.men)
YEAR 2016. Manuel Liñán (Reversible)
YEAR 2017. Olga Pericet (The Thorn That Wanted to Be a Flower…)
YEAR 2018. Rafaela Carrasco (Born Shadow)
YEAR 2019. Rubén Olmo (Hours Counted)
YEAR 2020. Manuel Liñán (Long Live!)
YEAR 2021. David Coria & David Lagos (Fandango!)
YEAR 2022. Alfonso Losa (Flamenco: Creative Space)
YEAR 2023. Rafaela Carrasco (Nocturna, Architecture of Insomnia)
YEAR 2024. Alfonso Losa & Patricia Guerrero (Alter Ego)
YEAR 2025. Marco Flores (Virgin Land)
YEAR 2026. Estévez & Paños Company (Maids. Permanent revelry)
