Premio Suzzara
The historic contemporary art competition founded in 1948 by Dino Villani and Cesare Zavattini
About Premio Suzzara
An art prize that dialogues with its time
The Premio Suzzara is one of the most deeply rooted and original artistic institutions in the Italian landscape. Founded in 1948 in Suzzara, in the Province of Mantova, on the initiative of advertising expert Dino Villani in collaboration with the writer and screenwriter from Suzzara Cesare Zavattini, the competition was born with a revolutionary idea: to bring art to ordinary people and tell the story of the world of work and daily life. It is no coincidence that, in its early days, prizes were also awarded in kind—products of the land—to emphasize the link between art and the farming world.
A collection that is the city's heritage
Edition after edition, the awarded works have become part of the public collection housed in the Museo Galleria del Premio Suzzara, on via Don Bosco. Over time, a valuable artistic heritage has been formed, a living testament to over seventy years of Italian art, from the post-war period to the contemporary era. Today, the Gallery hosts the annual exhibition and serves as a cultural reference point for the entire Mantova area.
Between competition, exhibition, and popular jury
Each edition of the Premio revolves around a theme proposed to the artists, who submit new works. A jury selects the works and awards the main prize and mentions, while a characteristic popular jury—made up of the citizens of Suzzara—casts its vote, keeping alive the democratic spirit of its origins. The exhibition of the selected works remains open to the public for several months, between autumn and winter.
Premio Suzzara — edition 2026
The 53rd edition of the Premio Suzzara is titled "Scorched Earth. Art in the Anthropocene": an invitation to artists to reflect on humanity's impact on Earth, the fragility of the landscape, and the need to imagine new balances between ecological crisis and social desertification.
The inauguration and awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 11 AM at the Museo Galleria del Premio Suzzara, via Don Bosco. The exhibition of selected works will then be open for viewing until January 9, 2027. The 2026 edition is dedicated to the memory of the ceramic artist Carlos Carlè (awarded in 1991) and the painter Karl Plattner (winner in 1965).
Programme Premio Suzzara 2026
Stages of the 53rd edition
- By May 9, 2026 (12 PM) — Deadline for artist applications
- By July 4, 2026 (5 PM) — Submission of works
- Saturday, September 19, 2026 — Popular jury vote (adult residents of Suzzara)
- Sunday, September 20, 2026, 11 AM — Exhibition opening and awards ceremony
- Until January 9, 2027 — Exhibition open to the public at the Museo Galleria del Premio Suzzara
Theme: "Scorched Earth. Art in the Anthropocene." Edition dedicated to Carlos Carlè and Karl Plattner.
Highlights Premio Suzzara 2026
Prices Premio Suzzara 2026
Practical information — Premio Suzzara
Venue
Museo Galleria del Premio Suzzara, via Don Bosco 2/A, Suzzara (MN).
How to get there
Suzzara can be reached by car from the SS62 and the A22 motorway (Pegognaga exit), and by train from the city station connected to Mantova, Parma, and Ferrara.
Participation
Participation in the competition is free and open; works must be unpublished. The call for entries, deadlines, and procedures are published on the official website premiosuzzara.it.
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Where does it take place — Premio Suzzara
Museo Galleria del Premio Suzzara
Via Don Bosco 2/A, 46029 Suzzara