Etna Prize

The Etna Prize: A tradition since 1971

The Etna Prize is one of the longest-running and most cherished cultural events on the northern side of Mount Etna. Established in 1971 in Linguaglossa, within the Metropolitan City of Catania, Sicily, the award celebrates individuals who have dedicated their lives to the protection and appreciation of the world's mountains. Scientists, communicators, mountaineers, and cultural figures have received this honor, which, edition after edition, has successfully merged the rigor of scientific outreach with the allure of the great Sicilian mountain.

The event in Piazza dei Vespri Siciliani

The ceremony takes place in the evening, outdoors, in the picturesque Piazza dei Vespri Siciliani, in the historic center of Linguaglossa. It is more than just an award ceremony: it is a full-scale performance featuring guests from the worlds of theater and music, storytelling sessions, and dialogues with the honoree, all under an artistic direction that weaves together words, science, and art. Admission is free, and the square fills with residents and visitors drawn by the magic of a summer night at the foot of the volcano.

The heart of Etna Week

The Etna Prize is the concluding event of Etna Week, a festival promoted by the Municipality of Linguaglossa in collaboration with the Pro Loco and the Italian Alpine Club (CAI). For one week, the town comes alive with sunrise and sunset hikes on the craters and volcanic ridges, exhibitions, live wood sculpting, scientific talks, film screenings, musical performances, and pedestrian zones featuring local crafts and gastronomy. It is a program that showcases Etna as a natural, cultural, and identity-defining heritage.

Why you should attend

• A prestigious award with over half a century of history.
• Guests from the worlds of entertainment and scientific communication.
• A unique setting: the village of Linguaglossa in Etna Park.
• Free admission and an authentic Sicilian festival atmosphere.

Between the wooded slopes of Etna and the squares of the historic center, the Etna Prize is the perfect opportunity to discover Linguaglossa and the northern side of the volcano, experiencing an evening that puts the mountain, its beauty, and its defenders at the center stage.