While the 2027 falleras mayores begin their diaries, those from the previous year move into a different lane: that of tributes. Carmen Prades's came early, among the first of the season and the second among the mayores. Her commission, Convento Jerusalén-Matemàtic Marzal, gathered the court, the fallero family and much of the festival world in the foyer of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía this Friday.

The dress was the surprise of the evening. An outfit in off-white, silhouette cut with long sleeves, signed by Eduardo Cervera, nodding to Valencian traditional dress: it carried the flowers of two of the espolines Prades has worn during her reign printed on it. The one from her commission's fallera mayor, named 'Libertad', on the lower front; and the design of the Fallera Mayor de València espolín on the right sleeve. The design is hand-painted by the fallero artist and painter Francisco López Albert.

The distinction and the portrait

The commission's president, Paco Segura, awarded her the falla's highest distinction, and the portrait that will preside over the casal's penjà was unveiled, joining the group's gallery of portraits. There was a compilation video with images of Carmen as a child alongside her uncle Pedro Ródenas, the man who brought her into the Fallas world, and speeches from the court: Zoe Molino, Ani Torregrosa and Vega Archer for the mayores, and Marta Mercader and Martina Songel for the children's court.

Among the guests were fallero artists, including those behind the municipal falla, and Beatriz Blanco, Fallera Mayor of Valencia 2027, who attended her counterpart's tribute. Juan Roig and Hortensia Herrero, Convento members, also came, as did Laura Segura, fallera mayor in 1994. The night closed with Les Folies de Carcaixent and a firework display by Vulcano near the Reina Sofía.

For Prades it is the closing of a year at the very top, though whoever has held the festival's greatest throne never quite disappears: she will keep appearing at fallero events and activities.

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