The competition spans a wide range of disciplines, including architecture, visual arts, photography, historical research, arts and letters, narrative, world heritage, journalism, poetry, and civic values. Residency in Alcalá is not a requirement to submit entries.
Submission deadlines vary by category. Applications for Architecture, Visual Arts, Photography, Research, Narrative, Journalism, and Poetry must be submitted by May 31st. For the Civic Values and Alcalá City Award for Arts categories, the deadline is July 17th, while the World Heritage category closes on September 4th.
Among the most notable accolades is the Alcalá City Award for Arts and Letters, traditionally presented on October 9th, coinciding with the commemoration of Miguel de Cervantes' baptism in the city. Historically, this award has recognized prominent figures such as Fernando Fernán Gómez, Isabel Allende, Adolfo Marsillach, Ainhoa Arteta, Joaquín Sabina, Ana Rosa Quintana, and Carlos Herrera.
Three of the awards honor significant personalities from Spanish cultural and political life: the historical research award is named after Francisco Javier García Gutiérrez, the city's Official Chronicler; the journalism award is the ‘Manuel Azaña’; and the award for civic values is the ‘Arsenio E. Lope Huerta’, in memory of a former mayor.
