Recognition honors efforts to preserve historic legacy between the United States and Spain
Madrid, February 5, 2026 — The Fundación Consejo España–Estados Unidos has selected the City of St. Augustine as the recipient of the 11th Bernardo de Gálvez Award in recognition of its historical significance and the role it has played in preserving the shared legacy between Spain and the United States. The decision was adopted by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees at its ordinary meeting in December 2025.
The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on June 12 in Avilés, Spain, and will be attended by Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline, and other officials from Spain and Florida, as well as invited representatives of institutions involved in bilateral cooperation.
Founded in 1565 by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the United States and a living symbol of the Spanish legacy in North America. The choice of Avilés as the venue for the award ceremony is no coincidence: the Asturian city maintains a direct historical link with St. Augustine that has been preserved and strengthened over the centuries.
Today, Spain and Florida maintain a close and dynamic relationship, based on cultural, educational and tourism exchanges, as well as on joint projects aimed at preserving historical heritage. St. Augustine continues to serve as a living bridge between both territories, fostering dialogue and cooperation among communities, institutions and citizens of Spain and Florida.
The Bernardo de Gálvez Award honors institutions, organizations and territories that stand out for strengthening relations between Spain and the United States and for keeping alive the values of cooperation, dialogue and mutual understanding. Previous award recipients include distinguished figures and institutions such as the Meadows Museum, the U.S. Library of Congress, and historian Stanley G. Payne.
The President of the Foundation, Josu Jon Imaz, emphasized, “St. Augustine represents in an exemplary way the shared history between Spain and the United States and keeps alive a legacy that continues to strengthen, today, the ties between our peoples, especially between Spain and Florida.”
For her part, the Mayor of St. Augustine, Nancy Sikes-Kline, stated, “We are honored to be selected for this prestigious award. Recognition of this magnitude reinforces the value of our efforts and serves as an inspiration. It is critical that we continue to sustain our long-time friendship, which is deeply important and ties our great nations together.”
In 2015, the City of St. Augustine hosted the 20th United States–Spain Forum, co-organized by the U.S.–Spain Council and the Foundation as part of the 450th Anniversary commemorations, and attended by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. Other examples of the City’s commitment to celebrating its Spanish heritage include the 2021 commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of Florida becoming a United States Territory with the Spanish Ambassador, Spanish Consul General and other Spanish dignitaries in attendance; hosting a delegation from Avilés, Spain, in 2024 celebrating 100 years of our sister city relationship, and long-standing support of scholarly research of our Spanish heritage, such as the La Florida, interactive digital archive of the Americas.
This recognition takes on special significance in the context of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States. St. Augustine, one of the earliest European settlements in what is now the country, bears witness to the Spanish influence on communities, infrastructure and commerce that existed before and during the events that led to Independence. For this reason, the city stands as a living testimony to how Spanish heritage helped lay the cultural, social and economic foundations that would later shape the American nation.
With this distinction, the Foundation reaffirms its commitment to promoting the value of shared history and to fostering a strong and dynamic relationship between Spain and the United States, highlighting both the historical ties and the current cultural, economic and human exchanges.
About the Fundación Consejo España – EE. UU.
The Fundación Consejo España – EE. UU. is a private, not-for-profit organization whose Board consists of major Spanish corporations, cultural and academic institutions, and members of the Spanish public administration. It was created in 1997 to strengthen the bonds between Spain and the United States in all areas and as to achieve greater mutual understanding and awareness to foster common initiatives. Since its inception, it has shared this mission with its U.S. counterpart, the United States Spain Council. Through its own programs and activities, as well as supporting other similar initiatives, the Fundación Consejo España – EE.UU. promotes dialogue and facilitates connections between the people of Spain and the United States, having become the organization of reference for public diplomacy between both countries. For more information, visit www.spainusa.org.
For media inquiries, contact Melissa Wissel, Communications Director, at 904.293.3307 or via email at mwissel@citystaug.com.
