The director of the MACE museum received the Art and Culture award, with her name kept secret until the ceremony.
From telling Ibiza’s stories and preserving its traditional recipes to teaching music and caring for the local community, ten women have been recognised for their contributions to the island at the Tanit Ibiza Congress & Awards. The ceremony, held on Saturday at the Jesús Cultural Centre, brought together professionals from journalism, gastronomy, medicine, tourism and the arts.
Presented by actress Patricia Mari-Pino, the event also paid posthumous tribute to Lina Bufí Juan and Vicky Ferrazzano, while three awards recognised prominent figures from across Spain.
One of the evening’s best-kept secrets was the identity of the recipient of the 2026 Tanit Art and Culture Award. Elena Ruiz Sastre, director of the Museu d’Art Contemporani d’Eivissa (MACE), was announced as the winner during Saturday’s ceremony in recognition of her work preserving, promoting and showcasing contemporary art from Ibiza.
The women behind the Tanit Awards
Journalist Sonia Ribas Torres received the Tanit Communicator Award for a career devoted to covering current affairs and bringing Ibiza’s stories to audiences through print journalism and radio.
Ibiza’s culinary heritage was represented by Catalina Riera Marí of Ca n’Alfredo, who received the Tanit Gastronomy Award. The distinction recognises her dedication to traditional recipes and to passing on a food culture that remains an integral part of the island’s identity.
The Tanit Creator Award went to painter Marta Torres Marí, whose work explores Ibiza’s distinctive light, landscapes and character. Meanwhile, Ana Bigas Saltó, associated with Ramat, received the Tanit Hotelier Award for her contribution to tourism and hospitality on the island.
Educator Belén Alvite Gregori was presented with the Tanit Solidarity Award for her work in prevention and support at the Centre for the Study and Prevention of Addictive Behaviours (CEPCA), particularly among young people and families.
Doctor Montse Viñals Gigena received the Tanit Pioneer Award, recognising her career in medicine and her role as one of the women who have helped pave the way for others in the profession.
Violinist and conductor Lina Tur Bonet was named Tanit Entrepreneur in recognition of her musical projects and international career, which has taken her talent to stages in several countries.
Alongside these awards and the surprise recognition for Elena Ruiz Sastre, the ceremony honoured two women whose legacies continue to be felt across Ibiza and the wider Pityusic Islands.
Lina Bufí Juan, a teacher and a driving force behind music education in the Pityusic Islands, was remembered for her role in establishing Ibiza’s conservatoire and bringing music to generations of students.
The second posthumous tribute went to Vicky Ferrazzano, in recognition of her contribution to promoting Adlib fashion, Ibiza’s distinctive fashion movement, and her commitment to charitable work with the Elena Torres Association for Research into Early Cancer Detection.
Three national awards and a debate on work-life balance
The 2026 Tanit Spirit Awards were presented to three prominent figures: Sandra Golpe, journalist and director of Antena 3 Noticias 1; Carola Baleztena, actress and content creator; and Josefina Sánchez-Errázuriz, president of the NGO Nuevo Futuro.
All three took part in El juego de las equilibristas (The Tightrope Walkers’ Balancing Act), a panel discussion moderated by Alicia Reina, co-founder of Tanit Ibiza Conexión. The conversation explored leadership, work-life balance and the personal sacrifices that can accompany professional careers.
The event also marked the presentation of Equilibria, a study by Tanit Ibiza Conexión, Turijobs and the Spanish Association of Hotel Executives. Drawing on nearly 1,000 responses, the research examines how women working in tourism balance their professional responsibilities, personal lives and caring commitments.
The programme included a talk by Eva Ballarín, co-founder of the initiative, and performances by Yaima Arias and Cristina Quirós.
The fifth edition of the Tanit Ibiza Congress & Awards was sponsored by the Ibiza Island Council and Santa Eulària Town Council. The occasion also coincided with the presentation of the second volume of Mujeres Tanit Ibiza (Tanit Women of Ibiza), featuring 18 women who were recognised at the 2024 and 2025 awards.