‘FIRST DATES’ TO RECEIVE THE 2026 JOAN RAMÓN MAINAT AWARD FROM FESTVAL

The Warner Bros. ITVP dating show is recognised by FesTVal for a decade of consolidating its position in access prime time and becoming an audience and social phenomenon.

First Dates will receive the 2026 Joan Ramón Mainat Award from FesTVal (Vitoria-Gasteiz Television Festival), a recognition that highlights the format’s success and significance. The festival cites “a ten-year track record of consolidating Cuatro’s access prime-time offering and becoming an audience phenomenon, a distinctive style and a reflection of social diversity”.

Premiering on Cuatro in April 2016 and produced by Warner Bros. ITVP Spain, First Dates has established itself as one of the leading programmes in access prime time in Spain. The Spanish adaptation of the successful Warner Bros. ITVP format, produced in more than 25 countries, has connected with diverse audiences of all ages over the past decade, going beyond entertainment to become a genuine social phenomenon.

First Dates has provided a nightly showcase of the diversity of Spanish society and the many different ways of understanding love and relationships, establishing itself as one of the most recognisable entertainment brands on television in Spain.

The Joan Ramón Mainat Award, presented by FesTVal since 2009, recognises the careers and contributions of outstanding professionals, programmes and figures in the Spanish audiovisual industry.

The award will be presented on Saturday 12 September 2026 at the FesTVal closing gala.