Panama Launches a New Cultural Landmark with Carlos Malo de Molina as Its First Award Recipient

Panama Launches the International Panamanian Literature Prize, a New Literary Distinction with Global Ambitions

The Inspiration and Reading Foundation and the MyM Reading and Leadership Club have formally unveiled the International Panamanian Literature Prize, a cultural initiative conceived to emerge as the most esteemed, far-reaching, and globally acclaimed literary honor promoted from Panama to the international community.

The announcement took place at the National Library of Panama during a press briefing that gathered journalists, authors, cultural figures, reading advocates, institutional delegates, and notable guests from the literary community.

The International Panamanian Literature Prize has been created as a lasting and prestigious cultural forum devoted to celebrating the written word, honoring exceptional intellectual contributions, and showcasing how literature can profoundly shape society.

The initiative seeks to place literature at the center of public discourse by encouraging reading, increasing the visibility of authors, and creating spaces where culture can be celebrated with seriousness, respect, and distinction.

The inaugural award ceremony is scheduled for June 25, 2026 at the National Library of Panama, where writers, cultural leaders, strategic partners, members of the media, and distinguished guests from across the region are expected to gather.

The organizers proudly reveal that the inaugural International Panamanian Literature Prize will be awarded to Carlos Malo de Molina, whose body of work reflects the vision and ambition that define this new honor.

Carlos Malo de Molina has made a significant contribution to Spanish-language literature throughout an outstanding career that includes the publication of sixteen books. His work has earned recognition not only for its literary quality but also for its commitment to promoting reading and fostering a deeper appreciation of literature as a fundamental pillar of cultural and civic development.

The award honors his body of literary work as well as his commitment to spreading knowledge, fostering emerging talent, cultivating lasting relationships, and motivating future generations of readers and writers.

As the first honoree of the International Panamanian Literature Prize, Carlos Malo de Molina will stand as the initial figure recorded in the annals of this accolade, laying a significant groundwork for what its organizers anticipate will evolve into a long‑standing cultural institution.

The organizers aspire for the International Panamanian Literature Prize to become an annual benchmark event for Panama and the broader international literary community, encouraging greater engagement with books, ideas, and intellectual creation while honoring those who have dedicated their lives to literature and culture.

The Inspiration and Reading Foundation and the MyM Reading and Leadership Club expressed their gratitude to Editorial Océano, the media, cultural partners, and all organizations and individuals whose support has made this project possible.

With the introduction of this prize, Panama opens a new phase in its cultural evolution, aiming to secure for literature the recognition it merits as a lasting, honored, and deeply meaningful force in the intellectual and human advancement of society.