Creative Bravos Awards 2026: Honoring Albuquerque's Cultural Luminaries

From flamenco to bookstores, circus arts and concert bands, meet the 2026 Creative Bravos honorees shaping the city's vibrant arts scene.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The winners of the 2026 Creative Bravos Awards were announced, celebrating local arts organizations and leaders who enrich Albuquerque's cultural life. The public will have the chance to honor the recipients at an award ceremony on March 14 at the Albuquerque Museum. This year's honorees include Bookworks, Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company, Rosalinda Rojas, Albuquerque Concert Band, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, AMP Concerts, and Cardboard Playhouse Theatre Company and The Box Performance Space. Fusion Theatre Company and its executive director Dennis Gromelski were also recognized with a Legacy Bravo Award.

Why it matters

The Creative Bravos Awards highlight the vibrant and diverse arts scene in Albuquerque, showcasing the organizations and individuals who are preserving cultural traditions, nurturing the next generation of artists, and bringing innovative artistic experiences to the community. By honoring this year's recipients, the awards help raise the profile of Albuquerque's thriving arts and culture ecosystem.

The details

The 2026 Creative Bravos Awards ceremony will take place on March 14 at the Albuquerque Museum. The awards, co-presented by the city's Department of Arts and Culture and Albuquerque first lady Elizabeth Kistin Keller, honor local arts organizations and leaders who have made significant contributions to the cultural life of the city. This year's honorees include Bookworks, an independent bookstore that has served the community for over 40 years; Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company, one of the largest flamenco companies in the U.S.; Rosalinda Rojas, a multifaceted dancer and choreographer who founded the Albuquerque School for Circus Arts; the Albuquerque Concert Band, a volunteer music organization celebrating nearly 60 years; the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, dedicated to preserving and celebrating Pueblo arts and culture; AMP Concerts, which hosts over 100 concerts annually featuring international artists; and Cardboard Playhouse Theatre Company and The Box Performance Space, led by Doug Montoya and Kristin Berg. Fusion Theatre Company and its executive director Dennis Gromelski were also recognized with a Legacy Bravo Award for their 25 years of sustained excellence in professional theater.

  • The Creative Bravos Awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
  • Bookworks has been serving the Albuquerque community since 1984.
  • Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company was founded in 1999.
  • The Albuquerque Concert Band has been around for nearly 60 years.
  • The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center will celebrate its 50th anniversary in August 2026.

The players

Bookworks

An independent bookstore that has been a fixture in Albuquerque for over 40 years, serving as a hub for the community and hosting events with authors, poets, and other literary figures.

Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company

One of the largest flamenco repertory companies in the United States, founded in 1999 by Joaquín Encinias and maintaining a living archive of over 55 unique repertory dance pieces.

Rosalinda Rojas

A multifaceted Afro-Caribbean dancer, choreographer, dance instructor, and founder of the Albuquerque School for Circus Arts, who has contributed to the cultural life of New Mexico for over two decades.

Albuquerque Concert Band

An all-volunteer music organization that has been performing in Albuquerque for nearly 60 years, playing a wide variety of music from classical to jazz and Broadway.

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

An organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating Pueblo arts and culture, providing platforms for Native artists through exhibitions, performances, educational programs, and market opportunities.

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What they’re saying

“The store has been here for almost 42 years now, so to … help it stay healthy and make sure it can continue to be a vital part of our community is both a wonderful role and also a huge responsibility. It has been part of so many lives and so many childhoods, and we want to make sure it can continue to serve in that way.”

— Shannon Guinn-Collins, Co-owner, Bookworks (Albuquerque Journal)

“It was a project I started with my mother's nonprofit. She had already been doing a lot of wonderful programming, and I wanted to start a repertory company, (because) there's not a lot of repertory flamenco companies in the world. So, it was something I was passionate about. And 27 years later, we're still going strong.”

— Joaquín Encinias, Founder, Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company (Albuquerque Journal)

“My mom always said, 'When a door closes, another one opens. And if that door closes, you crawl through the window.'”

— Rosalinda Rojas (Albuquerque Journal)

“It's a great organization to be part of. I always quote Willie Nelson, 'The life I love is making music with my friends.'”

— Steve Sobolik, President, Albuquerque Concert Band (Albuquerque Journal)

“I've done something that impacts a lot of people, which is super cool. … But I never had a drive to build or create something like that. That's why I credit Albuquerque with that. There's room to build things here … and people are friendly and welcoming, so you actually get a lot of nice encouragement.”

— Neal Copperman, Founding Director, AMP Concerts (Albuquerque Journal)

What’s next

The Creative Bravos Awards ceremony on March 14 will provide the public with the opportunity to celebrate and honor this year's recipients for their contributions to Albuquerque's vibrant arts and culture scene.

The takeaway

The 2026 Creative Bravos Awards showcase the depth and diversity of Albuquerque's arts community, from independent bookstores and flamenco companies to circus arts schools and volunteer concert bands. By recognizing these cultural luminaries, the awards help to amplify the city's reputation as a hub for innovative and community-driven artistic expression.