The awards ceremony will take place on May 2nd at the Real Casa de Correos, headquarters of the regional Executive, during the traditional institutional act of the Community Day. The regional president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, will preside over the event.
Among those honored in the sports field is Enrique Cerezo, president of Atlético de Madrid since 2003, valued for both his management of the club and his career as a film producer, considered essential for the preservation of Spanish audiovisual heritage. Also recognized will be Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz Jr., described as an international benchmark, and Paralympic skier Audrey Pascual, for her achievements in adapted sports and her example of overcoming challenges. The Vuelta Ciclista a España and its director will also receive an award for their contribution to sports development and the country's projection.
In the cultural sector, the Grand Cross will be awarded to painter Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau, a leading exponent of historical painting, and journalist César Lumbreras, for his more than four decades hosting the radio program Agropopular on COPE, giving a voice to the rural world.
Additionally, the dedication of professionals from the Wildlife Recovery Center (CRAS) will be recognized for their vocational work in regional fauna conservation, as well as the career of Miguel Carballeda at the helm of ONCE, promoting inclusion and employment for people with disabilities. In the health sector, Dr. José Eugenio Guerrero, head of the ICU at Gregorio Marañón Hospital, will be distinguished for his role during the pandemic and his leadership among healthcare professionals. Coinciding with their centenaries, multinational IBM, for its historical ties to the region, and Hospital Universitario San Francisco de Asís, for a century of care service, will also receive the decoration.
In the business sector, the Community will honor La Pajarita, a symbol of traditional Madrid commerce since 1852, and Club Metrópoli for its project integrating heritage, gastronomy, and culture in the capital. Finally, the twelve students from IES Humanejos de Parla, known as ‘Los vigilantes de Parla’, will be awarded for saving a woman's life during a school trip to Ireland, an act symbolizing the civic values and solidarity of Madrid's youth.
The Dos de Mayo celebration will not be without controversy, as in previous editions. The Community has not invited the delegate of the Government in Madrid, Francisco Martín, considering him a "delegate of 'sanchismo'". The absence of official representation from ministers is also expected. The Socialist Party, for its part, will organize a parallel event, described by the regional Government as a "birthday party".
Another contentious point is the confirmed absence of the military parade, according to the spokesperson for the Madrid Executive, Miguel Ángel García. "This year there will also be no army parade, as happens in other communities and had been happening in Madrid for decades. This is a sectarian decision by the Government. We regret it for the army itself and for the people of Madrid," explained the also Minister of Presidency, Justice and Local Administration. Unlike in 2025, the awards ceremony will take place inside the Real Casa de Correos, although "surprises outside" are promised for Madrid residents, including the usual historical reenactment in the square.
