The International Press Institute (IPI) was proud to participate in the 2026 in Bogot谩, Colombia, joining journalists, editors, and media leaders from across Latin America and beyond for a series of conversations on press freedom, media sustainability, and the future of independent journalism.
Honouring courage in journalism
A highlight from the festival was a special award ceremony on Friday, July 24 honouring of the World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer awards in partnership with (IMS) and hosted by the .
The 2026 recipients of the are (Philippines), (Chile), and . The recipients of the are the (El CLIP) and (Azerbaijan).
Following the , this year鈥檚 awardees sat down for a panel discussion with IPI Executive Director Scott Griffen exploring the central questions of what it takes for journalism to survive when power wants truth to disappear, and the importance of independent journalists for keeping a record, even 鈥� and especially 鈥� in the darkest and most dangerous of times.
鈥淭he 2026 press freedom awards come at a time when journalism and press freedom are under unprecedented pressure in many parts of the world. This year鈥檚 award recipients come from different countries, generations, and political contexts. Yet what they all have in common is their dedication to holding power to account, even when power pushes back. With these awards, we honour journalists and media outlets whose courage, ingenuity, and resilience allow us to know, understand, and hold our governments and institutions accountable, and 鈥� perhaps 鈥� imagine and build a better future.鈥� 鈥� IPI Executive Director Scott Griffen
鈥淭his year鈥檚 awardees exemplify the importance of individual courage, collective resilience and resistance, and the critical importance of long-term alliances between journalists, editors, newsrooms, and international partners in the fragmented world we live in. They also demonstrate that when journalism is under attack, protection is not created by courage alone. Protection is created by visibility and solidarity, and when journalists refuse to be isolated and the rest of us refuse to leave them standing alone.鈥� 鈥� IMS Executive Director Jesper H酶jberg
Read more about this year’s awardees and view photos of the event:
Bringing the press freedom community together
Beyond this year鈥檚 press freedom awards, IPI was proud to partner with the 2026 Gabo Festival through a series of conversations on the challenges and future of independent journalism in Latin America.
On Saturday, July 25, IPI and IMS hosted a gathering on the state of press freedom in Latin America, during which journalists and press freedom defenders from across the region shared experiences, strategies, and resources for tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing independent journalism.
The group extended a special message of solidarity and support for Peruvian journalist and 2025 World Press Freedom Hero , who is facing in retaliation for his investigative journalism, and acknowledged the recent killings of two Colombian journalists, and , and the need to end the cycle of impunity for crimes against the press.
On Sunday, July 26, IPI held a screening of our new documentary film 鈥�,鈥� an homage to the resilience of IPI鈥檚 members and partners at the forefront of defending press freedom around the world 鈥� from Ukraine, Turkey, the Philippines, Mexico, the United States, Gaza, and Hungary. The documentary is also available in and .
The screening was followed by a with three international journalists advancing the fight for press freedom in the Philippines, Nepal, and Ecuador, moderated by the film’s co-director, Gabriela Manuli.
IPI also participated in co-organised by the (GFMD) and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) examining the current state of journalism funding and technology infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean.
IPI Executive Director Scott Griffen, alongside several Latin American representatives from IPI鈥檚 first , joined participants in reflecting on the challenges facing funding flows for independent journalism and rethinking funding strategies beyond traditional donor-driven models.
Thank you to Gabo
IPI extends a special thanks to the for hosting IPI at the 14th edition of the Gabo Festival, the leading event for journalists and storytellers in Ibero-America bringing together journalists, editors, and media leaders from across Latin America and beyond for vital conversations about the state of independent journalism. Next year鈥檚 Gabo Festival will mark the centennial celebration of Gabo Foundation creator and Nobel Prize-winning journalist Gabriel Garc铆a M谩rquez.
IPI is especially grateful to the Gabo Foundation for hosting this year鈥檚 IPI-IMS press freedom awards ceremony. Next year鈥檚 awards will be presented at IPI鈥檚 , which will bring together the world鈥檚 leading journalists, editors, and media leaders in Budapest, Hungary, from May 12 to 14. .
Photos: NUKAK/courtesy of Fundaci贸n Gabo