Pedro Almodóvar Receives France’s Legion of Honour
Casa de Velázquez, Madrid
30 September 2026

On 30 September 2026, Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar was awarded the insignia of Officer of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest national order, during a ceremony at the Casa de Velázquez in Madrid. The distinction was presented by French President Emmanuel Macron as part of his state visit to Spain, recognising Almodóvar’s contribution to European culture and the longstanding cultural ties between France and Spain.

The honour marks another chapter in Almodóvar’s close relationship with France, where his films have long enjoyed significant critical and public recognition. He was first appointed a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1997, the year in which he served on the jury of the Cannes Film Festival, before now receiving the higher rank of Officer.

During the Madrid ceremony, the freedom and audacity that have characterised Almodóvar’s cinema were highlighted, as well as the filmmaker’s role in reshaping representations of contemporary Spain. The award acknowledges a career whose distinctive visual language, complex characters and exploration of desire, identity and personal freedom have established Almodóvar as a major figure in international cinema.