A total of 76 students from 13 schools across Mallorca took part in the second edition of these awards, which aim to promote literary creativity among the island’s youth and spread the vocabulary found in traditional rondalles (Mallorcan folktales).

The Consell de Mallorca presented the Mallorca Jove 2025 Prizes this Tuesday at the Centre Cultural La Misericòrdia. This is the second edition of the awards, created to foster creativity in Catalan and encourage familiarity with rondalles among school students on the island. The initiative has been a great success: 76 participants from 13 schools entered the competition, 16 students and 3 more schools than last year.

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The Consell de Mallorca Awards the Mallorca Jove 2025 Prizes to New Talents in Catalan Poetry and Narrative

The President of the Consell de Mallorca, Llorenç Galmés, and the Vice President and Councillor for Culture and Heritage, Antònia Roca, awarded the prizes to the winning students and highlighted the role of youth in preserving Mallorcan traditions and language: “We continue to work so that young people can learn about our roots and the vocabulary of the rondalles, which are now recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of our island.”

As President Galmés explained, one of the requirements of this contest was that the submitted works had to include some of the following words: Embalum, rebost, trinxet, cabellera, colgar, sarau, betzol, sarró, esflorar, falaguer, pitxorina, averany, testa, buina, garrit/garrida. In this way, participants become familiar with traditional Mallorcan vocabulary that is currently falling into disuse.

During the ceremony, President Galmés emphasised the growing interest in the initiative: “It’s inspiring to see how the Premis Mallorca Jove, in its second edition, continues to motivate a growing number of young people in Mallorca. The increased participation reflects the enthusiasm and commitment of new generations to the island’s culture, reaffirming the importance of this contest in promoting youth talent.”

Award Winners

In the poetry category for 9th and 10th grade students (3º and 4º ESO):
The Balanguera Prize went to Jan Pitarch Riera, who received €350 and a full set of rondalles mallorquines by Jordi d’es Racó. The runner-up, Clara Gual Roses, was awarded €250 and the same book collection.

In the narrative category for 9th and 10th grade students:
The Bearn Prize was awarded to Lluc Homar Vidal, who received €350 and the full set of rondalles. Runner-up Bruna Calafat Boscana received €250 and the same collection.

For 11th and 12th grade students (1º and 2º Bachillerato) in poetry:
The Pi de Formentor Prize was given to Gabriel Ferrer Miró, who won €350 and the full rondalles collection. Runner-up Núria Carrillo Zanoguera received €250 and the same set.

In the narrative category for 11th and 12th grade students:
The Joana E. Prize went to Bàrbara Elionor Vallespir Cortès, with €350 and the full rondalles collection. Runner-up Gabriel Llabrés Pol was awarded €250 and the same books.

As a new feature this year, a Bookmark Design Prize was introduced, aimed exclusively at 7th and 8th grade students (1º and 2º ESO). This category had six winners: Helmut Duvier Carreño Forero, Toni Ginard Rigo, Joan Andreu Tortella, Zakaria Madrane, Melina Sánchez Ficicchia, and Pedro Risco Quetglas. Each winner received a diploma, €120, and the full set of rondalles mallorquines in recognition of their creativity and graphic design talent.

Recognition of Educational Institutions

In addition to individual winners, the Consell de Mallorca also recognised the schools involved in the winning and finalist entries for their commitment to literature and local culture.

This year, IES Josep Font i Trias stood out with two winning entries in the Bearn and Joana E. categories. The school received two free activities from the Consell de Mallorca’s Cultural Activities Catalogue (CACIM), as well as a class outing to the Teatre Principal de Palma for the final group.

Among the schools with winning entries:

• IES Binissalem won in the Balanguera category and will receive a CACIM activity.
• IES Berenguer d’Anoia, in Inca, won in the Pi de Formentor category and will also receive a CACIM activity.

Schools with finalist entries:

• IES Can Peu Blanc (sa Pobla) in the Joana E. category
• Àgora Portals Centre (Portals Nous) in the Balanguera category
• Sant Josep Obrer Centre (Palma)
  These schools will enjoy a group performance at the Teatre Principal de Palma.