The Val d'Aran celebrated its national festival, the Hèsta d’Aran, this Tuesday, commemorating the anniversary of the restoration of its highest Aranese institution and the recovery of its self-governance in 1991. The institutional event, held at the sanctuary of Mijaran, included the presentation of the Premi 17 de Juny to the theatre group Era Cabana and various cultural activities as part of the TerSon festival.
The mayor of Aran, Maria Vergés, highlighted in her institutional speech the recent progress made in consolidating Aranese uniqueness, emphasizing the parliamentary approval last February which led to the official recognition of Aran's self-governance and the improvement of its unique funding system for the Pyrenean territory. Vergés explained that this reform marks a historic step in adapting the legal framework to the Aranese institutional reality, solidifying the territory's distinct character and preventing its assimilation into a mere local administration, a result of collaboration with the Generalitat de Catalunya.
Regarding funding, the mayor highlighted the agreement reached with the Generalitat to implement a new singular funding model, which will ensure greater economic stability and better utilization of resources for the competencies assumed by the Aranese government. This system will strengthen territorial decision-making capacity and guarantee public services tailored to citizens' needs, reinforcing the recognition of Aran's political, legal, and administrative distinctiveness.
The Minister of the Presidency, Albert Dalmau, emphasized Parliament's role in consolidating this special status, distinguishing Aran from ordinary local regimes. Dalmau noted that the new funding will allow for increased resources to strengthen public services, healthcare, and Aranese institutions. He also highlighted the validation in Parliament of the decree on urgent measures in urban planning and public procurement for rural municipalities, which facilitates economic activity and population retention, adapting to a reality different from that of large cities like Barcelona.
A key moment of the commemoration was the presentation of the Premi 17 de Juny 2026 to the theatre group Era Cabana, recognized unanimously for its over two decades of work in promoting and normalizing the Aranese language. The award acknowledges their continuous efforts and for making Aranese a natural medium for artistic creation and cultural value transmission, also valuing the work of director and author Manuela Ané.
Concurrently, the third edition of the TerSon festival organized cultural, musical, and recreational activities for all audiences, promoted by the Government of Aran to bring the festival closer to the community. A commemorative video about Aranese ancestors was also presented, accessible via social media, aiming to celebrate the cultural and identity richness of the Pyrenean territory.
