Antonio Baquero

The European Journalist of the Year 2026 award went to Antonio Baquero from Spain.

He is awarded the prize in recognition of a distinguished career defined by courage, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to journalism in the public interest:

Through an outstanding record of investigative work, Antonio Baquero has illuminated the hidden structures of wealth, influence, and financial secrecy that transcend national borders. His reporting on high-level tax evasion and concealed oligarch wealth has helped bring complex and consequential issues into the public arena, contributing to wider European debates on transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. As a key editor at the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), he has helped lead and coordinate major international investigations demonstrating the extraordinary reach and importance of collaborative investigative journalism.

The trophy was handed over on Friday, 16 October 2026 at the PRIX EUROPA 2026 Awards Ceremony at Haus des Rundfunks / rbb.