Taormina Music Award

A new music award at the Ancient Theatre of Taormina

The Taormina Music Award launches in 2026 as a new event dedicated to celebrating great Italian music, hosted in one of the Mediterranean's most enchanting settings: the Ancient Theatre of Taormina, in the heart of the 'Pearl of the Ionian Sea' in the province of Messina. The event is promoted by the Municipality of Taormina, led by Mayor Cateno De Luca, in collaboration with the Taormina Foundation, chaired by Valeria Brancato.

The inaugural edition: The Taormina Legend Award for Vasco Rossi

The first edition of the award is set for September 19, 2026, and centers on the presentation of the Taormina Legend Award, a lifetime achievement honor that marks the beginning of the event's history. It will be presented to Vasco Rossi, one of the most iconic figures in Italian music with a career spanning over forty years. The official invitation, signed by the Municipality of Taormina and the Taormina Foundation, was personally delivered to the artist in Olbia by President Valeria Brancato.

A tribute spanning twenty-five years

The choice of Vasco Rossi as the first recipient is no coincidence: 2026 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of his memorable performance at the Ancient Theatre during the 2001 Festivalbar. That evening remains etched in the memories of the city and thousands of fans, and the award aims to reconnect that thread, bringing the rocker from Zocca back to the ancient Greco-Roman stage overlooking the Gulf of Taormina.

The Ancient Theatre, a symbolic stage for Sicily

Built between the 3rd century BC and the 2nd century AD, the Ancient Theatre of Taormina is the second-largest classical theatre in Sicily and has long been one of the most coveted venues for Italian and international artists. With its seating area facing the sea and Mount Etna, it offers a setting unique in the world, blending the power of archaeology with the energy of live performance. It is in this scenario that the Taormina Music Award aspires to become a new benchmark for celebrating Italian popular and singer-songwriter music.

An event between Taormina and Sicily

Part of the rich calendar of events that brings Taormina and the entire province of Messina to life each year, the Taormina Music Award aims to highlight the Sicilian territory as a cultural and tourist capital of the Mediterranean. The date for the 2026 edition and the name of the first recipient have been announced by the organizers, while further details regarding the full program, guests, and access information will be released in the weeks leading up to the event.