National "L'Inedito" Award - In the Footsteps of De Sanctis
The national literary competition for unpublished works, held in the birthplace of Francesco De Sanctis
About L'Inedito Award
A literary award in the birthplace of Francesco De Sanctis
The National "L'Inedito" Award - In the Footsteps of De Sanctis is one of the most established literary competitions in the Irpinia region. Promoted by the Delta 3 Edizioni publishing house based in Grottaminarda, it rewards strictly unpublished works each year and guarantees their publication, offering emerging authors a tangible platform rather than just symbolic recognition. The 18th edition marked the first time the event was hosted in Morra De Sanctis, in the province of Avellino, the village in Alta Irpinia that gave birth to Francesco De Sanctis, the renowned literary critic and Minister of Public Education to whom the award is dedicated.
The venue is the Castello dei Principi Biondi Morra, which transforms for a full day into a literary salon open to everyone. The award is organized in collaboration with the Municipality of Morra De Sanctis, the Campania Region, and the Province of Avellino.
Competition categories
The call for entries is open to authors of any nationality, and participation is completely free: contestants submit unpublished works in Italian (or accompanied by a translation), and simultaneous applications for multiple categories are permitted.
- Poetry - collections of 30 to 100 poems;
- Novel - up to 300 pages;
- Short Story - up to 300 pages;
- Fairy Tales and Fables - maximum 100 pages;
- Play/Script - up to 200 pages;
- Special category "Humanitas Nova", dedicated to Professor Romualdo Marandino - short essays (maximum 15 pages) on the theme of peace in literature.
Works are evaluated by section juries presided over by a chairperson, and their decisions are final. The top three entries in each category receive print publication in the "La Biblioteca del De Sanctis" series by Delta 3 Edizioni, with the number of copies awarded based on the final ranking (20, 10, or 5 copies).
The awards ceremony
The ceremony is a comprehensive cultural event. The morning begins with a gathering at the castle and the opening of a photography exhibition, followed by a thematic conference addressing a civil or literary issue each year; in 2026, it was dedicated to the 80th anniversary of women's suffrage in Italy. In the afternoon, the event continues with tours of the castle halls and the antiquarium, followed by the awards ceremony, accompanied by musical interludes and theatrical readings.
Musical accompaniment is provided by young instrumentalists from the "Domenico Cimarosa" Conservatory of Avellino. The artistic director of the event is the poet Domenico Cipriano; the patron and driving force behind the organization is Silvio Sallicandro, publisher of Delta 3.
Special awards
Alongside the competition categories, each edition assigns a series of honors to prominent figures in culture and the local territory:
- Francesco De Sanctis Award, for scholars of national significance;
- Culture Award;
- Host Municipality Award;
- Memorial Award, dedicated to deceased figures linked to the prize;
- Local Historical Magazine Award;
- "Local School" Award, for schools participating in the project;
- Special Photography Award, assigned with the AvellinoPHOTO circle;
- "Villages in Letters" Award and various association awards.
A widespread award in Irpinia
The strength of the initiative lies in the network of municipalities and associations that support it: in addition to Morra De Sanctis, the lead partner for the 2026 edition, towns such as Bisaccia, Lacedonia, Monteverde, and Taurasi participate, alongside service clubs and local cultural entities. Winners do not simply receive their prize; they join the "Author Encounters" circuit, a series of traveling presentations hosted by the municipalities and associations that adhere to the project.
Morra De Sanctis, between Alta Irpinia and Campania
Morra De Sanctis is a small mountain town in the Province of Avellino, in Campania, which has linked its name to that of its most illustrious citizen. The town preserves the Castello dei Principi Biondi Morra, the birthplace of De Sanctis, and a wealth of memories that the award helps to bring back into the spotlight. Surrounding it is the Alta Irpinia, a land of forests, significant wines like Taurasi, and villages rebuilt after the 1980 earthquake: a context where a literary event also serves as a cultural stronghold.
L'Inedito Award — edition 2026
A day between memory and vision
The 18th edition marked a symbolic milestone: the "L'Inedito" Award was hosted for the first time in Morra De Sanctis, the Irpinian municipality that gave birth to Francesco De Sanctis. The Castello dei Principi Biondi Morra welcomed authors, jurors, and the public for a full day of free admission, with a program that alternated civil reflection, art, and literature.
The morning began at 10:00 AM with a gathering at the castle and the inauguration of the photography exhibition "A Day in the Life" by Franco Sortini. At 10:30 AM, the conference dedicated to the 80th anniversary of women's suffrage brought together sociologist and writer Luisa Festa, philosopher Ester Basile, the mayor of Morra De Sanctis Fiorella Caputo, and writer Neria De Giovanni, president of the Italian literary critics, moderated by Floriana D'Ambrosio. During the same session, the "Local School 2026" award was presented to the Morra De Sanctis branch of the Criscuoli Comprehensive Institute, and the special "AvellinoPHOTO Photography 2026" award was given to Franco Sortini.
In the afternoon, from 4:30 PM, after visiting the castle halls and the antiquarium, the awards ceremony for the competition categories and special honors took place, hosted by writer Paola Pepino and journalist Luca Virno, with interludes by the accordion quartet from the "Domenico Cimarosa" Conservatory of Avellino and a theatrical performance by Davide Di Pietro as Francesco De Sanctis.
The awards
Among the special awards of the edition: the Francesco De Sanctis Award to linguist Nicola De Blasi, member of the Accademia della Crusca; the Culture Award to Fiorella Pagliuca, superintendent of schools in Avellino; the Municipality of Morra De Sanctis Award to Neria De Giovanni; the Memorial Award dedicated to writer Paola Silano; and the Local Historical Magazine Award to the magazine "Sinestesie". In the poetry section, Chiara Maria Guarino stood out, also receiving the "Calore River Basin Award". As per the regulations, the winning works receive free publication in the "La Biblioteca del De Sanctis" series by Delta 3 Edizioni.
Programme L'Inedito Award 2026
Saturday, April 25, 2026 - Castello dei Principi Biondi Morra
Morning
- 10:00 AM - Gathering at the castle and inauguration of the photography exhibition "A Day in the Life" by Franco Sortini;
- 10:30 AM - Conference for the 80th anniversary of women's suffrage (1946-2026), with Luisa Festa (sociologist and writer), Ester Basile (philosopher, Italian Institute for Philosophical Studies), Fiorella Caputo (mayor of Morra De Sanctis), and Neria De Giovanni (writer, president of Italian literary critics); moderated by Floriana D'Ambrosio;
- Presentation of the "Local School 2026" award to the Morra De Sanctis branch of the Criscuoli Comprehensive Institute and the special "AvellinoPHOTO Photography 2026" award to Franco Sortini.
Afternoon
- 4:30 PM - Visit to the castle halls and the antiquarium;
- Awards ceremony for the poetry, novel, short story, fairy tale, and theater categories and the special "Humanitas Nova" section;
- Presentation of special awards: Francesco De Sanctis Award, Culture Award, Municipality of Morra De Sanctis Award, Memorial Award, Local Historical Magazine Award, "Villages in Letters" Award, and association awards;
- Hosted by Paola Pepino and Luca Virno; musical interludes by the accordion quartet of the "Domenico Cimarosa" Conservatory of Avellino and theatrical performance by Davide Di Pietro.
Highlights L'Inedito Award 2026
- First edition of the award hosted in Morra De Sanctis, birthplace of Francesco De Sanctis;
- Conference for the 80th anniversary of women's suffrage, with a roundtable at the castle;
- Photography exhibition "A Day in the Life" by Franco Sortini;
- Francesco De Sanctis Award to linguist Nicola De Blasi, member of the Accademia della Crusca;
- Awards for poetry, novel, short story, fairy tale, theater, and "Humanitas Nova" categories;
- Live music with the accordion quartet of the "Domenico Cimarosa" Conservatory of Avellino;
- Guided tour of the Castello dei Principi Biondi Morra and the antiquarium.
Prices L'Inedito Award 2026
Practical information — L'Inedito Award
Location
Castello dei Principi Biondi Morra, Morra De Sanctis (AV), Campania. The day is divided between the conference hall, the historic rooms of the castle, and the antiquarium.
How to get there
Traveling by car is the most practical option: Morra De Sanctis can be reached from the A16 Naples-Canosa motorway by continuing along the Alta Irpinia road network. The nearest airport is Naples-Capodichino; the reference railway stations are those in the Irpinian plain, from which it is necessary to continue by road.
Admission and participation
The awards ceremony is free and open to the public. Registration for the competition is also free: unpublished works must be sent to the address [email protected] by the deadline indicated in the annual call for entries published by Delta 3 Edizioni.
Tips
This is a long day with both morning and afternoon sessions: it is advisable to arrive for the opening and take advantage of the break to visit the village and the birthplace of Francesco De Sanctis.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — L'Inedito Award
Castello dei Principi Biondi Morra