For his work at Kalandraka Editora as an editor, author and translator of children's and young adult literature
Xosé Ballesteros to Receive the FGEE’s Liber 2026 Tribute Award for His Publishing Career
The Board of Directors of the Federation of Publishers’ Associations of Spain (FGEE) has decided that Liber 2026 will pay tribute to Xosé Ballesteros Rey, co-founder and managing director of Kalandraka Editora, a publishing project that publishes in all the official languages of the Iberian Peninsula. Through this recognition, the FGEE wishes to highlight his professional career and contribution to the publishing industry, particularly in the field of children’s and young adult literature, as well as his commitment to quality publishing, literary creation, translation and the promotion of reading.
The Liber Tribute to Xosé Ballesteros will take place on 30 September at the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) during the Liber Gala, held as part of the activities organised alongside the International Book Fair.
During the gala, the Liber 2026 Awards will also be presented to the Regional Library of Murcia (promotion of reading in public libraries); the series Anatomía de un instante (best audiovisual adaptation); ABC Cultural supplement (promotion of reading through the media); and Cuban writer Leonardo Padura (most distinguished Latin American author). In addition, the Boixareu Ginesta Award for Bookshop of the Year will be presented to Casa Anita in Barcelona.
More than 35 years in the industry
Xosé Ballesteros Rey is an editor, writer, translator and specialist in children’s and young adult literature. As co-founder and managing director of Kalandraka Editora, established in 1998 and awarded Spain’s National Prize for Best Publishing Achievement in 2012, he has built an extensive career focused on developing high-quality literary catalogues and promoting books for readers of all ages.
He also heads the publishing imprints Cuatro Lunas and Faktoría K de Libros, which form part of the Kalandraka group. His catalogue includes more than 800 titles, some of which have received major awards and distinctions both in Spain and internationally.
As an author, he has published works such as Talego, which won the Manuel García Barros Novel Award in 1993, and Journey to the Abode of the Gods. Among his children’s books are The Little White Rabbit, Uncle Wolf and Imagine Animals, among others, which have been translated and published in several countries. As a translator, he has edited numerous children’s books and, in adult literature, a poetry anthology by Fernando Pessoa that received the third National Award for Best-Edited Book in 2015.
Xosé Ballesteros has also maintained a strong institutional presence representing the publishing industry. He served as president of the Asociación Galega de Editoras between 2016 and 2020 and as a member of the FGEE Board of Directors between 2018 and 2021. He has also served on the jury of the Princess of Asturias Award for Literature on several occasions.
About Liber
Internationally recognised as one of the leading trade fairs for the export, promotion and showcasing of Spanish-language publishing, Liber will take place from 29 September to 1 October at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue.
The event will bring together 250 publishing houses and industry companies, which will present their latest releases and backlist titles, as well as products and services related to book marketing and distribution. The fair will also feature a programme of professional conferences to analyse current industry developments and reflect on the challenges facing the book value chain.
Liber 2026 is organised by Fira de Barcelona and promoted by the Federation of Publishers’ Associations of Spain (FGEE). It is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, ICEX Spain Trade and Investment, CEDRO, the Government of Catalonia and Barcelona City Council, with the collaboration of Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), the Catalan Publishers’ Guild and the Association of Catalan-Language Publishers.
Madrid, 2 September 2026
Image gallery here
Maria Dolors Herranz
Fira de Barcelona Press Office – Liber 2026
Tel. +34 93 233 25 41 – 21 72
[email protected]