Elio Vittorini National Literary Prize
The national fiction award from Syracuse celebrating Elio Vittorini
About Vittorini Prize
A national prize born in Syracuse
The Elio Vittorini National Literary Prize is the premier event dedicated to contemporary Italian fiction in the Municipality of Syracuse, Sicily. Promoted by the Vittorini-Quasimodo Cultural Association in conjunction with the Department of Culture of the Municipality of Syracuse, with the collaboration of the INDA Foundation and the patronage of the Sicilian Region, the prize pays tribute to Elio Vittorini (Syracuse, 1908 - Milan, 1966), one of the leading figures of 20th-century Italian literature and author of masterpieces such as Conversazione in Sicilia and Uomini e no.
Vittorini Week
The heart of the event is Vittorini Week, a series of appointments held in various locations across the city: public meetings, talks, interviews with the finalists, and the famous Trial of Vittorini, a debate focusing on the author's work and persona. The festival concludes with a gala evening and the announcement of the winning work.
How the prize works
Works of Italian fiction published in print and submitted directly by publishing houses are eligible. A jury commission, chaired by Professor Antonio Di Grado, selects the three finalists; the jurors' votes are combined with those cast collectively by a popular jury of avid readers, identified by Syracuse public libraries, local bookstores, the Dante Alighieri Society, and other Italian institutions. The winner receives a prize of 3,000 euros, while the two runners-up receive 1,000 euros each.
The Arnaldo Lombardi Independent Publishing Prize
The main prize is accompanied by the Arnaldo Lombardi Independent Publishing Prize, an award dedicated to independent publishing houses with a catalog of at least twenty historical and literary publications. A section dedicated to First Works has also been reintroduced to highlight debut novels.
An appointment for the city
For Syracuse, a UNESCO World Heritage site alongside the Necropolis of Pantalica, the Vittorini Prize is much more than a literary competition: it is an occasion that links the Province of Syracuse and the whole of Sicily to the national cultural debate, bringing literature back into the squares, libraries, and symbolic places of the island, in the name of one of its most illustrious sons.
Vittorini Prize — edition 2026
25th edition: a special year
The 25th edition of the Vittorini Prize falls on the 60th anniversary of the passing of Elio Vittorini and holds particular significance. Vittorini Week brings Syracuse to life from Wednesday, September 9 to Saturday, September 12, 2026, with talks, public interviews with the finalists, the Trial of Vittorini, and the closing evening with the announcement of the winning work.
Contestants and theme
There are 46 authors from 26 publishing houses in the running, nine of whom are in the First Work section. The guiding theme of the initiatives is photo-text, where images are used not merely as graphic or decorative elements, but as an expressive form that interacts with the text, in homage to Vittorini's own visual sensitivity.
Jury and prizes
The commission, chaired by Professor Antonio Di Grado, selects the three finalists by June; the jurors' votes are added to those of the popular jury of avid readers. The winner receives a prize of 3,000 euros, and the two finalists receive 1,000 euros each. The 7th edition of the Arnaldo Lombardi Independent Publishing Prize will also be awarded.
Programme Vittorini Prize 2026
Vittorini Week 2026 runs from Wednesday, September 9 to Saturday, September 12, featuring:
- Talks and public meetings in iconic locations across Syracuse, dedicated to the theme of photo-text;
- Public interviews with the finalists;
- Trial of Vittorini, a debate on the author's work and persona;
- Closing evening (September 12) with the announcement of the winner and the presentation of the Arnaldo Lombardi Independent Publishing Prize.
The names of the three finalists will be announced following the jury's selection; the detailed program of times and venues will be published by the organizers closer to the event.
Highlights Vittorini Prize 2026
- 60th anniversary of the passing of Elio Vittorini
- 46 authors competing from 26 publishing houses
- First Work section with nine debut novels
- Theme of the edition: photo-text
- 7th Arnaldo Lombardi Independent Publishing Prize
Prices Vittorini Prize 2026
Practical information — Vittorini Prize
Where
The events of Vittorini Week take place in various locations in Syracuse; the prize secretariat is based at the Municipal Library, Via Dei Santi Coronati 4, 96100 Syracuse.
How to get there
By train: Syracuse station, connected to Catania and the regional network. By car: A18 Catania-Syracuse motorway. By plane: Catania-Fontanarossa airport, about an hour away.
Admission
Public meetings during Vittorini Week are generally free to attend. For the detailed program and times, it is recommended to check the official channels of the Vittorini-Quasimodo Association and the Municipality of Syracuse.
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Where does it take place — Vittorini Prize
Biblioteca Comunale di Siracusa
Via Dei Santi Coronati 4, 96100 Siracusa