Queen Sofía to Present Sophia Awards for Excellence at Miami Gala Honoring Pérez and Rainieri Families

Her Majesty Queen Sofía of Spain will travel to Miami on January 28, 2026, to present the Sophia Awards for Excellence during a formal gala at the Pérez Art Museum Miami, marking a major international cultural event in South Florida.

The awards, organized by the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute, recognize individuals and institutions that have made lasting contributions to the cultural, artistic, diplomatic, and humanitarian connections between the Spanish-speaking world and the United States. Established as the Institute’s highest honor, the award has previously been presented to global figures across public life, the arts, science, and diplomacy.

The 2026 honorees are Jorge M. and Darlene Pérez and Frank and Haydée Rainieri, two couples whose work has shaped cultural, philanthropic, and civic life across the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Jorge M. Pérez is a prominent real estate developer, art collector, and philanthropist, best known as the founding executive chairman of the Related Group. Over more than four decades, his developments have reshaped South Florida’s urban landscape, while his philanthropic efforts have included major support for institutions such as the Pérez Art Museum Miami, Tate Modern, and Museo Reina Sofía. Darlene Pérez, an advanced registered nurse practitioner, has focused her career on healthcare, education, and the arts, playing a central role in philanthropic initiatives through the Pérez family foundation and the museum’s International Women’s Committee.

Frank and Haydée Rainieri are founders of Grupo Puntacana and widely recognized for transforming Punta Cana into an international tourism destination rooted in sustainability and community development. Their work extends into education, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation. In 2026, the Rainieri Cultural Center is scheduled to open in Punta Cana, envisioned as a nonprofit institution dedicated to Dominican history, identity, and artistic expression.

The Miami gala also serves as the opening cultural event of the America & Spain 250 initiative in Florida, commemorating 250 years of shared history between Spain and the United States ahead of the nation’s 2026 semiquincentennial. The initiative highlights Spain’s role in the American Revolution and the broader historical contributions of Spanish-speaking communities to the development of the United States.

Hosting the event in Miami underscores the city’s position as a cultural bridge linking the United States, Spain, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and reflects its growing influence as an international center for arts, history, and philanthropy.

RSVP to attend the Sophia Award for Excellence Gala here.

By ML Staff. Photos: Queen Sofía Spanish Institute.