The British writer Julian Barnes received on 21 October 2026 in Oviedo gave the Premio Princesa de Asturias de las Letras and afterwards expressed his scepticism to members of the media about the United Kingdom’s return to the European Union. “I’m afraid I won’t live to see the United Kingdom back in Europe,” said the author, who was born in 1946. Barnes was referring to the political union by “Europe”. He called Brexit a “political, economic and moral disaster”.
The remarks were made as part of the official events during awards week in Oviedo, which traditionally culminates in the award ceremony at the Teatro Campoamor The awards are organised by the Fundación Princesa de Asturias. Since 1981, the literature prize has honoured authors whose work sets international standards. For decades, Barnes has been one of the leading voices in contemporary English-language literature, with novels such as “Flaubert’s Parrot” and “The Sense of an Ending”.
Barnes’ assessment of Brexit is a personal political opinion. It does not represent the official positions of the United Kingdom or the European Union. A possible future return by London to the EU would be a lengthy political and legal process, on which governments and parliaments in London and Brussels would have to decide. Any statements about its timing and terms therefore remain speculative.
In Spain, prize speeches and accompanying appearances by laureates regularly provide a forum for cultural and socio-political statements. Against this background, Spanish media viewed Barnes’ remarks as a contribution to the current European debate. For years, polls and election results in parts of Europe have shown gains for Eurosceptic and illiberal forces; at the same time, geopolitical conflicts and trade disputes are straining relations between major powers — developments Barnes also addressed in Oviedo.
Alongside the Cervantes Prize, the Premio Princesa de Asturias de las Letras is considered one of the most prestigious cultural awards in the Spanish-speaking world. In awarding it to Barnes, the jury recognised a body of work that repeatedly raises questions about truth, memory and moral responsibility — themes the author explicitly linked to the political present in Oviedo.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).