The Princess of Asturias Award to the National Museum of Anthropology strengthens Mexico-Spain rapprochement: INAH

This Wednesday, from Oviedo, Spain, the Princess of Asturias Foundation announced Mexico's National Museum of Anthropology (MNA) as the recipient of the 2025 Princess of Asturias Award for Concord. The award was recognized by the jury as "heir to a long tradition of defending and preserving an essential part of humanity's anthropological heritage that, at the same time, expresses the identity of a great nation in which its people identify."

The Foundation noted that the MNA was "conceived as a space for reflection on the indigenous heritage of the Mexican nation," adding that the facility, operated by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), "is considered one of the most important museums in Latin America and a global benchmark in the study of humanity, due to its commitment to the dissemination, research, and preservation of cultural heritage."

He also announced that the National Museum of Anthropology "maintains a close relationship with Spain and Spanish culture, as its halls also house objects from the viceregal period that reflect the fusion of indigenous and Spanish cultures and the two-way relationship that has historically existed between them, nourishing and enriching each other."

With this confirmation, the Mexican museum becomes the first Mexican institution or individual to receive the Princess of Asturias Award in the Concordia category and the second museum in the world to receive the corresponding distinction. It was previously awarded to the Israeli institution Yad Vashem, which operates the Holocaust History Museum.

The Mexican site's nomination was proposed by Emilio Lamo de Espinosa Michels de Champourcin, president of the jury for the 2025 Princess of Asturias Award for Social Sciences, and was supported by archaeologist, anthropologist, and academic Eduardo Matos Moctezuma, 2022 Princess of Asturias Award Laureate for Social Sciences, and Juan Duarte Cuadrado, Spanish ambassador to Mexico.

The most visited in Mexico

The director general of the INAH, Diego Prieto Hernández, at the request of this media outlet, stated that the recognition in question "reaffirms the importance of the National Museum of Anthropology as a privileged space for the greatness, diversity, and cultural strength of Mexico, from the first civilizing impulses that flourished in our territory to the vitality, creativity, and resilience of the living cultures that nourish the linguistic, ethnic, regional, and communal diversity of present-day Mexico; in which Indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples have a relevant place, now recognized as subjects of public law and a central component of the multicultural nature of the Mexican nation."

The official also highlighted that this is the most visited museum in the country, with a reported 2024 total of more than 3.78 million visitors. He added that the museum is considered one of the ten most important museums in the world.

"I must highlight the importance of the renovation of the second-floor galleries, which we opened to the public on January 6th. These galleries showcase the incredible richness of our country's indigenous, Afro-Mexican, and mixed-race cultures," Prieto Hernández emphasized.

He also emphasized the importance of the award coming from this representative of the Spanish State: "It also speaks to Spain's interest in strengthening cultural ties and cooperation with Mexico, based on mutual respect, equality, and understanding."

Closed due to change of surveillance

At the same time as the ruling, the National Museum of Anthropology had been closed to the public since Tuesday, according to unofficial reports, "for reasons beyond the control of the museum's staff and authorities."

The incident occurred after the INAH announced last Sunday that it was dispensing with the services of the capital's Auxiliary Police and explained that, instead, the security duties at the facility would be covered by the private company SSS Assistance and Supervision.

In addition to the National Museum of Anthropology , other venues that announced the suspension of their services to the public are the National Museum of History of Chapultepec Castle, the Templo Mayor Museum, the El Carmen Museum, the National Museum of Interventions, and the Caracol Museum.

Federal Culture Secretary Claudia Curiel de Icaza announced Wednesday afternoon that she had instructed Director Diego Prieto "to make the necessary arrangements with the authorities responsible for security at this institute's museums. The goal is for all venues to reopen to the public as soon as possible—even as early as tomorrow."

The official welcomed the announcement of the 2025 Princess of Asturias Award for Concord to the National Museum of Anthropology and highlighted the following:

“A landmark work by Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, widely recognized for its magnificent central column, designed by Jaime Torres Bodet and composed of reliefs by the Chávez Morado brothers, the museum is also an expression of beauty that, along with works by renowned artists, makes it an icon of Mexican architecture. My gratitude to those who have made this space a vibrant space for critical research and access to knowledge, enabling us to understand the complexity, strength, and cultural power we represent in the world.”

Other distinctions for the country

With this announcement, the National Museum of Anthropology joins the more than 20 Mexican institutions or individuals to receive the Princess of Asturias Award in any of its categories.

Just last week, the Princess of Asturias Foundation announced the award in the Arts category for Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide.

Likewise, the aforementioned Eduardo Matos Moctezuma was honored in the Social Sciences category in 2022. In this same category, El Colegio de México was honored in 2001, and historian and politician Silvio Zavala did the same in 1993.

In the Communications and Humanities category, the Guadalajara International Book Fair was awarded the prize in 2020, jointly with the Hay Festival, which originated in the United Kingdom but has a presence in Mexico. In 2009, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) received the same distinction, while the Fondo de Cultura Económica received it in 1989. The same award was given to the magazine Vuelta, founded by Octavio Paz, in 1993.

Princess of Asturias Award, all Mexican winners:

Communication and Humanities