Hospitality returns to the center of the Camino
The Camino de Santiago is not only traveled with your feet, it is also experienced thanks to the people who make it possible. In 2026, one of its most important values once again takes center stage with the opening of applications for the Hermann Künig Hospitality Award.
The period will be open until May 30 and will allow recognition of those people, associations or initiatives that stand out for their way of welcoming and helping pilgrims. These are not big projects, but real gestures that make a difference in the day-to-day life of the Camino.
Recognize what really matters
On an increasingly busy and global path, this award focuses on something essential: hospitality. That gesture of offering help, a conversation or simply a space to rest.
The award seeks to make visible those who keep that spirit alive. From hospital workers to neighbors, volunteers or groups who, without making noise, contribute to making the pilgrim's experience more humane.
Anyone can submit a nomination, even nominating someone they consider worthy of recognition. This openness makes the award more authentically reflect what happens on the Camino.
A name with history
The award is named after Hermann Künig, a 15th century German monk who wrote one of the first guides to the Camino de Santiago. His work not only described routes, but also guided pilgrims on where to find help and hospitality.
Centuries later, that same spirit is still present. And this recognition seeks precisely that: to remember that the Camino has always been much more than a route.
A symbolic but significant recognition
The Hermann Künig Prize has no financial award. The recognition consists of a diploma and a symbolic piece linked to the world of the pilgrim.
However, its value goes beyond the material. Being recognized by the Camino community means giving visibility to a way of understanding the journey based on generosity and commitment.
The jury, made up of people linked to the Jacobean field, will be in charge of evaluating the applications and choosing the winner.
A legacy that lives on
In its first edition, the award already made clear what its essence is: highlighting the work of those who help without expecting anything in return. People who are there, stage after stage, making the Camino easier for others.
In a context in which the number of pilgrims continues to grow, maintaining that spirit becomes essential.
Much more than a prize
The Hermann Künig Prize is actually a reminder. A way to point out what makes the Camino de Santiago unique.
Because beyond the routes, the stages or the kilometers, the Camino continues to be a meeting place. A space where help and closeness continue to have real value.
And that is precisely what this award wants to recognize: those who make the Camino more humane.
