The "Catalan of the Year" award is organized by El Periódico de Catalunya, which since 2000 recognizes the Catalan person that was the most prominent in the development of their social or professional activity during the previous year. The award is voted by readers of the newspaper, after a previous selection of different nominees by a jury composed of persons from different social environments.
The award ceremony "Catalan of the Year" takes place during a solemn ceremony at the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, at the end of each January, attended by the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, the Mayor of Barcelona, and other personalities of the political, economic, social and cultural life of Catalonia.
Along with the prize "Catalan of the Year", the Journal of Catalonia also delivers other awards. The winner of the award in 2011 was Joaquim Maria Puyal.