Premio Strega

The Premio Strega: A Ritual of Italian Literature

The Premio Strega is Italy's most authoritative and widely followed literary award. Founded in 1947 by Maria Bellonci and industrialist Guido Alberti—whose Strega liqueur, produced in Benevento, gives the prize its name—it emerged from the intellectual gatherings of the "Sunday Friends" (Amici della domenica). Since then, every summer, it has awarded its laurel to the best work of Italian fiction of the year. Organized by the Fondazione Maria e Goffredo Bellonci, the prize has become a true barometer of Italian literary tastes and an unmissable event in the cultural calendar of Rome and the entire nation.

How the Prize Works

The journey of the Premio Strega unfolds over several months. From an initial list of candidates, the selection narrows down to a dozen, then to a shortlist of five—or, as in 2026, a shortlist of six—finalists, voted on by a vast jury of writers, intellectuals, scholars, booksellers, and avid readers. The final verdict is announced in Rome during a gala evening broadcast live on television, marking one of the most anticipated moments of the Italian cultural summer.

The 2026 Edition: The 80th Anniversary at the Campidoglio

In 2026, the Premio Strega celebrated its 80th anniversary (1947-2026) with a special edition. For the occasion, the final ceremony, traditionally hosted at the Nymphaeum of the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia, was exceptionally moved to Piazza del Campidoglio, in the heart of Rome's historic center, beneath the Michelangelo-designed frame of the Capitoline Hill. The evening of July 8, hosted by Pino Strabioli and Gloria Campaner, was broadcast live on Rai 3 and crowned Michele Mari for his novel I convitati di pietra (Einaudi).

A Prize That Becomes a City Festival

The 80th-anniversary edition aimed to open the prize to the entire citizenry: Roma Capitale organized a free live broadcast of the announcement on four large screens set up in iconic cultural landmarks—the Casa del Cinema in Villa Borghese, the Arena di Corviale, the Arena del Parco degli Acquedotti, and the MACRO (Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome). These open-access screenings transformed a historically exclusive ceremony into a shared celebration of literature. Additionally, the exhibition "Uno, cinque, dodici. Ottant'anni del Premio Strega" was held at the MACRO, dedicated to the history of the award.

Rome and Lazio: A Cultural Capital

In the City of Rome, the capital of the Lazio region and of Italy, the Premio Strega intertwines its prestige with that of its host venues, from Villa Giulia to the Campidoglio. More than just a prize, it is a summer ritual that draws publishers, writers, journalists, and readers every year, confirming Rome as one of the great crossroads of European literary culture.