Premio Tortoreto alla Cultura
The literary, visual arts, and film competition celebrating Abruzzo's identity
About Premio Tortoreto alla Cultura
A prize dedicated to Abruzzo's culture and identity
The Premio Tortoreto alla Cultura is one of the most recognizable cultural events in the calendar of Tortoreto, a town in the province of Teramo overlooking the Adriatic, in the heart of the Abruzzo Riviera. Now in its twenty-first edition, the prize is promoted by the Associazione Insieme in collaboration with the municipal administration and the Department of Culture, with the support of local entities such as the Fondazione Tercas.
Competition sections
The prize is divided into three major artistic sections, each categorized by age to involve both school children and adult authors:
- Fiction — stories and literary texts related to Abruzzo's culture, landscape, and traditions;
- Visual Arts — paintings, drawings, and visual works inspired by the region's places and identity;
- Short Film — short audiovisual works created by individuals, groups, or school classes.
Categories range from pulcini (the youngest) to giovanissimi (youth) and adulti (adults), with broad participation from schools in the Teramo area and other Abruzzo provinces. The common thread is the promotion of Abruzzo: many works depict its villages, mountains, the Trabocchi Coast, the Gran Sasso, and folk traditions.
The final ceremony
The highlight is the awards evening, hosted on the Lungomare Sirena in Tortoreto Lido, at the amphitheater of the Villaggio Welcome Riviera d'Abruzzo. The ceremony alternates between announcing winners and hosting entertainment guests, live musical performances, and entertainment, drawing a large audience of families, enthusiasts, and curious visitors.
Tortoreto, between sea and culture
Set in one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Teramo coast, the prize testifies to the cultural vocation of Tortoreto, which complements its seaside offerings—beaches awarded with the Blue Flag and Green Spike—with a busy calendar of summer events. Over the years, the Premio Tortoreto alla Cultura has established itself as an appointment capable of combining entertainment, regional promotion, and the creative growth of the new Abruzzese generations.
Premio Tortoreto alla Cultura — edition 2026
Premio Tortoreto alla Cultura 2026 — 21st Edition
The twenty-first edition was held on June 14, 2026, at the amphitheater of the Villaggio Welcome Riviera d'Abruzzo in Tortoreto Lido. The evening, hosted by Luca Zarroli with performances by the duo Ludo e Manu, featured actor Christian Ginepro (Mimmo D'Intino in the Rai series Rocco Schiavone) and Giorgio Giurdanella, in a dialogue between cinema, fiction, and the Abruzzese dialect.
Among the winners: in the adult fiction section, Emanuela Verdone with Il libro di ricette di Nanni'; in the adult visual arts section, Veronique Di Gaetano with Il Corno Grande; in the youth short film section, class IV D of the Liceo Classico Vittorio Emanuele II in Lanciano with La Sangro Chimica. Numerous Abruzzese schools were awarded in the youth and children's categories, confirming the prize's strong roots in the region.
Programme Premio Tortoreto alla Cultura 2026
June 14, 2026 — Amphitheater Welcome Riviera d'Abruzzo, Lungomare Sirena
- 6:00 PM — Meeting dedicated to cinema and television fiction with Christian Ginepro and Giorgio Giurdanella
- 9:00 PM — Awards ceremony for fiction, visual arts, and short film sections (children, youth, and adult categories)
- Live musical performances by the duo Ludo e Manu, hosted by Luca Zarroli
Highlights Premio Tortoreto alla Cultura 2026
- Guest Christian Ginepro, actor from the Rai series Rocco Schiavone
- Awards for fiction, visual arts, and short film sections
- Wide participation from Abruzzese schools and young authors
Prices Premio Tortoreto alla Cultura 2026
Practical information — Premio Tortoreto alla Cultura
Venue
The final ceremony is held on the Lungomare Sirena, in Tortoreto Lido, at the amphitheater of the Villaggio Welcome Riviera d'Abruzzo. In previous editions, some events also took place at the Church of Sant'Agostino in the center of Tortoreto.
How to get there
By car: A14 Adriatic motorway, exit at Val Vibrata, then follow signs for Tortoreto Lido. By train: Alba Adriatica-Nereto-Controguerra or Giulianova station, with local connections to Tortoreto. By plane: Abruzzo Airport in Pescara, about an hour away.
Admission and information
Attendance at the ceremony is free. Information on deadlines and competition calls is published by the Associazione Insieme of Tortoreto and the Municipality of Tortoreto.
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Where does it take place — Premio Tortoreto alla Cultura
Anfiteatro del Villaggio Welcome Riviera d'Abruzzo
Lungomare Sirena, 64018 Tortoreto