The Spanish newspaper El País celebrated its 50th anniversary [3] with a series of events at Matadero Madrid in late April 2026.
The festival highlights the role of journalism as a communal space and showcases the artists who define the publication's visual identity. By centering the creative process, the event emphasizes the intersection of art and political commentary in modern news.
Andrés Rábago, known as "El Roto," participated in the festivities by demonstrating his process for creating viñetas. In a video produced for the event, Rábago projected his works and explained the technical and conceptual steps required to produce his cartoons [1].
"Our profession consists of denouncing in a synthetic way that helps to understand reality," Rábago said [4].
The anniversary celebration spanned three days from April 26 to April 30, 2026 [2]. The programming included 70 different acts and activities [1] designed to reflect the history and future of the newspaper.
Approximately 150 participants took part in the festival [1]. The gathering at Matadero Madrid served as a retrospective of the publication's influence on Spanish society over the last five decades. The events aimed to reclaim journalism as a space for encounter, and public discourse [5].
Rábago's contribution focused on the ability of the cartoonist to distill complex political situations into a single image. His demonstration provided a rare look at the workflow of one of the most influential illustrators in Spain.
“Our profession consists of denouncing in a synthetic way that helps to understand reality.”
The 50th anniversary of El País marks a significant milestone for one of Spain's most influential media outlets. By integrating artistic demonstrations from figures like El Roto into a public festival, the organization is positioning its historical archive and current editorial staff not just as reporters of news, but as cultural architects who shape the national conversation through visual and written satire.
