International Prize for Contemporary Italian Literature

A literary prize in the heart of Rome

The International Prize for Contemporary Italian Literature is one of the most followed literary competitions on the national scene. Established in 2013 and promoted by the Associazione Letteratura Cultura Editoria (LCE) in partnership with the publishing house Laura Capone Editore, the prize celebrates its winners each year with a public ceremony in the evocative Sala della Protomoteca of the Palazzo Senatorio, on the Capitoline Hill in Rome. The event is held under the patronage of the Presidency of the Capitoline Assembly and has been part of the national "Il Maggio dei Libri" campaign for years, promoted by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Centre for Books and Reading.

A competition open to all voices

The prize is divided into numerous categories covering the entire spectrum of contemporary writing: unpublished poetry and poetic collections, short stories and anthologies, published and unpublished novels of all genres, thematic non-fiction, fairy tales and fables for children, musical lyrics, and graphic arts. A section is dedicated free of charge to stories and poems from schools, reflecting the prize's commitment to young talent and emerging writers. Participation is open to all ages, and works may be submitted in Italian or in dialect.

• Unpublished poetry, published and unpublished poetic collections
• Short stories and anthologies
• Published and unpublished novels of all genres
• Thematic non-fiction, psychology, and various literary genres
• Fairy tales and fables for children, school texts
• Graphic arts and musical lyrics

The ceremony at the Campidoglio

The highlight is the award ceremony, held in the afternoon in the Sala della Protomoteca, a historic frescoed hall in the Campidoglio dedicated to the busts of illustrious Italians. In the presence of Capitoline Assembly authorities, winners of the various categories receive plaques, medals, scrolls, and publishing contracts; many awarded works are published in national anthologies by Laura Capone Editore. For unpublished authors, the most coveted recognition is publication, with no fees required for editing, design, or distribution.

Rome, the Lazio Region, and the culture of books

Set in the city of Rome, capital of the Lazio region, the prize leverages the symbolic power of the Campidoglio to provide institutional visibility to contemporary Italian literature. Its inclusion in "Il Maggio dei Libri" links the event to the broader national promotion of reading, while collaboration with schools across Italy renews the bond between publishing, education, and new generations of writers every year. For those who love books and writing, this Roman appointment is an opportunity to discover emerging voices and high-quality works celebrated in the city's most solemn setting.