The People in Red Barcelona Solidarity Gala raises €838,769 for the Fight Against Infections Foundation

12/05/2026

The Fight Against Infections Foundation held, this evening, Monday 11 May, at the MNAC (National Art Museum of Catalonia), the 16th edition of the People in Red Barcelona Solidarity Gala, raising €838,769 to fight infectious diseases. The event brought together nearly 800 people, including sponsoring companies, institutions and leading figures from the country’s social, cultural and political spheres, united by the same cause.

Once again, model and presenter Martina Klein and former tennis player and sports commentator Alex Corretja served as ambassadors for the evening, which featured Amaral and Joan Dausà as guest artists.

Among the attendees were actors Marc and Aina Clotet, Natalia Sánchez, Manuela Vellés and Maribel Verdú; models Judit Mascó, Verónica Blume, Laura Ponte and Elsa Anka; content creators Paula Gonu, Lola Lolita and Tenay Rodríguez; renowned journalists Oriol Nolis and Helena Garcia Melero; and leading figures from the business sector such as Tatxo Benet, President and CEO of Mediapro, Emilio Rousaud, founder and CEO of Factor Energia, and Enrique Tomás. Other notable personalities included film director Carla Simón and fashion designers Ze García and Palomo Spain.

This year’s edition also saw the attendance of Salvador Illa, President of the Government of Catalonia; Josep Rull, President of the Parliament of Catalonia; Jaume Collboni, Mayor of Barcelona; and Maria Eugènia Gay, Second Deputy Mayor of Barcelona City Council, among other authorities.

All these individuals and organisations join the fight led by Dr Bonaventura Clotet and Dr Roger Paredes against infectious diseases, including HIV, COVID-19, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), neglected diseases, severe bacterial infections and infections affecting immunocompromised patients.

It is important to note that, according to the World Health Organization, one in five deaths worldwide is currently caused by infectious diseases, and that 100% of people will experience at least one infection during their lifetime. This is therefore a fight that concerns everyone.

The People in Red Barcelona Solidarity Award, presented for the first time

This year, for the first time, the People in Red Barcelona Solidarity Award was presented. The award was created to recognise individuals, projects or initiatives that make an exemplary contribution to community health, social awareness and the promotion of scientific research. The prize is a sculpture by internationally renowned artist Jaume Plensa, Love Hope, which he donated altruistically to the Foundation.

The award was presented to filmmaker, actor and creator Eduardo Casanova, recognised for his singular and courageous perspective in projects such as Silencio and Sidosa. This year, he also publicly shared that he is living with HIV.

Amaral and Joan Dausà, the soundtrack of the evening

Catalan singer-songwriter Joan Dausà welcomed guests with his hit Welcome to My Party and, before dinner, performed the second song of the night, Jo mai mai.

Meanwhile, the duo from Zaragoza, Amaral, performed some of their most iconic songs, including Cómo Hablar, El Universo Sobre Mí, Dolce Vita and Cuando Sube la Marea.

Finally, DJ Fede Sardà and award-winning mixologist Manel Vehí, from Boia Nit Events, delighted guests with outstanding music and cocktails, respectively.

Sílvia Abril and Toni Acosta, hosts of the evening

Once again, People in Red Barcelona benefitted from the collaboration of Sílvia Abril, who was joined this year by actress and presenter Toni Acosta, under the script and direction of El Terrat (The Mediapro Studio).

Michelin-starred gastronomy

Renowned Michelin-starred chef Nandu Jubany, together with his team at Jubany Events, was responsible for delivering a top-tier culinary experience.

Research against infections: a fight that continues

The main objective of the People in Red Barcelona Solidarity Gala is to inform and raise awareness about the challenges society currently faces in tackling infectious diseases, as well as to raise funds for research at the Fight Against Infections Foundation.

These seed funds are allocated to strengthening projects led by research teams across the Foundation’s different research areas. In fact, the Foundation is currently developing pioneering projects with international impact to protect the population from a potential avian flu pandemic; reduce mortality from respiratory infections and infections affecting immunocompromised patients; achieve a cure for HIV infection; and find a treatment for long COVID, among many others. In short, the funds raised will be key to accelerating all these research projects.

Who made People in Red Barcelona possible

Many individuals and companies collaborate with the People in Red Barcelona Solidarity Gala to drive cutting-edge research in the field of infectious diseases. Fundació SEAT CUPRA, Grifols, Osborne Clarke, “la Caixa” Foundation, Mesoestetic, MAC and Eurofirms are among the organisations that make this solidarity-driven event possible.l.