Oviedo honours Lisardo Lombardía with the “Martínez Torner” International Folklore Award

The City Council of Oviedo, through the Municipal School of Traditional Asturian Music, has granted this year’s “Martínez Torner” International Folklore Award to cultural manager and former director of the Interceltic Festival of Lorient, Lisardo Lombardía, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to traditional music and ethnographic research.

Born in Pola de Laviana, Lombardía has played a key role in promoting Asturian culture and connecting it to the Celtic world. He created and directed events such as Celtic Nights, the Celtic Harp Festival and Oviedo Folk, and his leadership of the Interceltic Festival of Lorient —one of Europe’s major cultural gatherings— helped to highlight the richness of minority cultures and strengthen ties between Asturias and other European regions.

Lombardía is also a member of the Advisory Council for Oviedo’s bid to become European Capital of Culture 2031, where he continues to foster the international projection of Asturian identity and the defence of Europe’s cultural diversity.

The jury, chaired by the Councillor for Education and Citizen Security, José Ramón Prado, announced that the award ceremony will take place on 26 November in Oviedo.

Through this recognition, Oviedo 2031 celebrates the value of tradition as a living force for contemporary creation and as a bridge connecting cultures across Europe.