Tuglie Excellence Awards
An evening celebrating talent, sport, and solidarity in Tuglie
About Tuglie Excellence Awards
A celebration of merit in the heart of Salento
The Tuglie Excellence Awards is one of the most anticipated events of the summer in Tuglie, a small town in the Salento area of the Lecce province, in Apulia. Created to give voice and recognition to those who distinguish themselves through commitment and passion, the award brings the community together every year in Piazzale Montegrappa for an open-air evening that blends entertainment, local pride, and solidarity.
Who is awarded
The event celebrates the excellence of the region across various fields: sports, journalism and media, culture, music, and science. Alongside established professionals, a special place is reserved for young rising stars: boys and girls who have already made a name for themselves in disciplines ranging from football to cycling, swimming to target shooting, and martial arts to taekwondo. It is a way to show that talent, when cultivated with seriousness, deserves to be shared and supported.
An evening of entertainment
The ceremony is not just about handing out awards; it is a true entertainment event. The stage features musical performances, dance choreography, and storytelling sessions led by journalists and presenters, creating a festive atmosphere that involves the entire square. Admission is free, and public participation is an integral part of the evening.
The charitable heart: the Telethon Foundation
The defining feature of the award is its charitable soul. The event is organized in close collaboration with the Telethon Foundation Provincial Coordination of Lecce and focuses the evening's efforts on fundraising for research into rare genetic diseases. Over the years, the Tuglie community has raised thousands of euros to support the cause, transforming a celebration of merit into a concrete gesture of generosity.
Institutional support
The event is sponsored by the Municipality of Tuglie, the Apulia Region, the Province of Lecce, and Rai Puglia, a testament to the deep roots and credibility achieved in just a few years by an award born from the grassroots initiative of a committee of local volunteers.
Tuglie Excellence Awards — edition 2026
The 9th edition of the Tuglie Excellence Awards returns on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at 8:30 PM, in the traditional Piazzale Montegrappa in Tuglie. Organized by the Tuglie Excellence Awards Committee, chaired by Marco Calò, the evening will honor talents in sports, journalism, culture, and science, with a dedicated space for the region's young rising stars. The charitable heart of the event remains, supporting the Telethon Foundation's research into rare genetic diseases, with the patronage of the Municipality of Tuglie, the Apulia Region, the Province of Lecce, and Rai Puglia.
Programme Tuglie Excellence Awards 2026
Sunday, July 5, 2026 — Piazzale Montegrappa, 8:30 PM
Awards and entertainment evening hosted by the Tuglie Excellence Awards Committee.
Entertainment:
- Performance by singer Giuseppe Toma
- Choreography by CDS Dance Studio of Melissano
- Presence of the Scuderia Alfisti Giallo Verdi
Main Awards:
- Sports: coach Antonio Calabro (football), G. Claudio Squeo (boxing), Volley Melendugno, Mauro De Filippis (skeet shooting)
- Information and culture: Antonio Gnoni, Maria Luisa Mastrogiovanni (investigative journalism), Francesco De Siena (music)
- Science: Dr. Alessandro Rizzo (medicine and research)
- Tuglie Excellence Jury: Cantina Peparussu; Casa delle tradizioni
Young rising stars (11 awardees): Alessio Sansó (football), Alessandro Metafuni (cycling), Cristian Ciciriello (swimming), Giorgia Bortone, Joana Cervellera and Giorgia Beccarrisi (target shooting), Alessia and Ludovica Quaranta (martial arts/Wako), Davide Ianne, Alessandro Todaro and Noelia Bartoli (taekwondo).
Telethon Guests: Annamaria Accoto (Lecce province coordinator), Dr. Antonio Trabacca (pediatric neurologist), Dr. Sandra Di Noia (rare diseases).
Highlights Tuglie Excellence Awards 2026
Prices Tuglie Excellence Awards 2026
Practical information — Tuglie Excellence Awards
Where
Piazzale Montegrappa, Tuglie (LE), Salento — Apulia. Open-air event, free admission.
When
During the month of July, in the evening (usually starting at 8:30 PM).
How to get there
Tuglie can be reached via the Lecce-Gallipoli expressway by taking the exit for Tuglie; the square is in the town center. Tuglie train station is on the Ferrovie del Sud Est line.
Contacts and information
Tuglie Excellence Awards Committee — tel. +39 389 6997725. Updates are available on the official Facebook page of the event.
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Where does it take place — Tuglie Excellence Awards
Piazzale Montegrappa
Piazzale Montegrappa, 73058 Tuglie