The international natural stone fair Stonegal officially opened yesterday at the Instituto Ferial de Vigo (IFEVI), with the participation of representatives from Galicia’s key institutions and business ecosystem connected to the natural stone sector.
During the official opening ceremony, speeches were delivered by Alejandro Miras, Director of Stonegal, and José Ángel Lorenzo, Secretary General of the Granite Cluster. Also in attendance were Alfonso Rueda, President of the Xunta de Galicia, Alejandro Lorenzo, Mayor of O Porriño, Luisa Sánchez, Vice President of the Pontevedra Provincial Council and José Manuel Nogueira, Institutional Director of Abanca.
President Rueda, accompanied by the Regional Minister of Economy and Industry, María Jesús Lorenzana, highlighted the significance of this first edition of Stonegal, calling it “an event destined to become a benchmark for one of the strategic sectors of our economy — the mining sector, and more specifically, natural stone.” He emphasized that the industry demonstrates how “it is possible to grow, innovate, and internationalize without compromising sustainability or local development.” He also reaffirmed the Galician government’s commitment to “a modern, efficient, and safe mining industry — with workers at its core.”
The official delegation toured the exhibition halls, visited key exhibitors, and paid special attention to the artistic installation The Color of Stone, designed by architect Belén Moneo of the Moneo Brock studio, which explores the cultural and symbolic dimensions of granite in contemporary architecture.
A Landmark Gathering for the Natural Stone Sector
Stonegal 2025 brings together over one hundred exhibitors from Spain and abroad, including delegations from the United Arab Emirates, Italy, South Africa, Turkey, and Portugal. The event reinforces its role as a key platform for innovation, design, sustainability, and the global reach of Galician natural stone.
“We inaugurated much more than a trade fair — we opened the doors to a project born out of the ambition to become a major international meeting point for all stakeholders in the natural stone ecosystem,” said Alejandro Miras. “Stonegal aspires to be a platform for visibility, dialogue, collaboration, and growth — a space not only to showcase the best of our industry but also to build relationships, open markets, and explore new applications of stone in architecture, design, and urban planning. Galicia has much to contribute in this field, and Stonegal aims to be its voice to the world.”
“This first edition of Stonegal represents a collective milestone for the entire sector,” added José Ángel Lorenzo. “We succeeded in bringing together leading companies, international specifiers, renowned architects, institutions, and professionals who share the same vision: Galician natural stone is a material of both the present and the future. With this event, Galicia positions itself as a hub of excellence, innovation, and sustainability. The Granite Cluster is proud to contribute to this joint initiative, which we are confident will mark a turning point for the international projection of our industry.”
About Stonegal
The exhibition space of Stonegal 2025 covers over 15,000 square meters and is dedicated to showcasing the latest developments in extraction, processing, design, architectural applications, and technical solutions involving natural stone. Leading companies in granite, marble, slate, and related technologies will present their capabilities in sectors such as construction, urban planning, furniture design, and exports.
The fair includes representatives from companies based in Galicia and the rest of Spain, as well as international exhibitors from the UAE, Italy, Portugal, and France. All of this positions Vigo as the epicenter of natural stone for three days.
Honoring Industry Excellence: The Stone Gala
As part of the exhibition’s program, today will also feature one of its most symbolic and eagerly awaited events: the Stone Gala, a celebration dedicated to honoring key figures in architecture and the granite sector. The ceremony will take place on the evening of June 4, in a unique and symbolic location — a quarry in O Porriño — and will host nearly 300 guests from across the natural stone industry.
During the gala, the Stonegal Awards will be presented, with special recognition going to the winner of the Antonio Palacios Architecture in Stone Award, which this year will be awarded to world-renowned architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, one of the leading figures in contemporary architecture. Additional award recipients will be announced during the event.
Notable attendees expected at the gala include:
-
Alejandro Lorenzo, Mayor of O Porriño
-
José González Vázquez, Regional Minister of Employment, Commerce, and Emigration
-
Pablo Fernández Vila, Director General for Energy Planning and Mines
-
José Manuel Nogueira, Institutional Director of Abanca
-
Alejandro Miras, Director of Stonegal
Stone Gala – Press Invitation
Date: Thursday, June 4, 2025
Time: 9:00 PM
Venue: Granitos y Áridos de Atios, O Porriño
