THEhe 64th edition of Campiello comes to life with the proclamation of the five finalists: it was announced in Padua, in the great hall of Palazzo del Bo. Contending for the final victory of the literary recognition promoted by Confindustria Veneto will be five Italian authors chosen by the Literary Jury, chaired for the first year by Roberto Cicutto. But now the ball passes to the Three Hundred Readers Anonymous. And if Campiello is Campiello, it is above all thanks to them.
Campiello Prize 2026, five finalists chosen
The proclamation of the five represents one of the most awaited moments in the Italian cultural panorama and confirms the central role of the Campiello Prize in the valorization of contemporary fiction. An event awaited by professionals but also by those who follow Italian fiction with curiosity and passion, because the Campiello continues to be one of the prizes capable of intercepting books destined to leave their mark.
This year there is also a symbolic and important novelty: the final of the award will move to the Lido of Venice for the first time. The winner will be announced on 3 October at the Palazzo del Cinema, in a choice that well illustrates the direction taken by Campiello in recent years: opening up, contaminating itself, communicating with other cultural languages.
Who are the finalists of the 2026 Campiello Prize
The following are therefore included in the final five of the 2026 Campiello Prize:
Ermanno Cavazzoni with Story of a friendship (Quodlibet), which is also in the Strega dozen. It tells of the comical and poignant friendship between the author and Gianni Celati (1937-2022), masterful writer, literary translator and Anglicist of the second half of the twentieth century.
Marcello Fois with The immense distraction (Einaudi), a family and existential novel, which crosses history and different generations. The narrator is Ettore, 95 years old, who has just died, but continues to think, and to retrace the memories of events that have distracted him from the thought of human frailty.
Valeria Parrella with The little girl (Feltrinelli), which tells the story of Joan of Arc.
Alcide Pierantozzi with I twist it (Einaudi), also in the Strega dozen, which explores the destabilizing impact of mental illness, psychotic crises and obsessions. Protagonist, a “defective” human being among many.
Elena Varvello with Life always (Ugo Guanda Editore). A journey to the post-war city of Alba where, amidst poverty, family disagreements and local political events, a love insinuates itself: it is the story of life that tries to resist Storito.
During the ceremony, the First Work prize was also awarded to Uyangoda Nadeesha for the book Dirty waterpublished by Einaudi (and also this one in the Strega dozen).
The covers of the five finalists of the 64th edition of the Campiello Prize, promoted by Confindustria Veneto. Contending for the victory are Marcello Fois with ‘L’immense distraction’ (Einaudi); Ermanno Cavazzoni with ‘Story of a Friendship’ (Quodlibet); Elena Varvello with ‘La vita semper’ (Ugo Guanda Editore); Valeria Parrella with ‘The little girl’ (Feltrinelli); Alcide Pierantozzi with ‘Lo sbilico’ (Einaudi). (photo Ansa)
And now the ball is in the hands of the Three Hundred Readers Anonymous
And now? Like every year, the selection of the five finalists came after months of reading and voting by the Literary Jurymade up of writers, critics, journalists and personalities from the cultural world. Leading the jury in 2026 is Roberto Cicutto, flanked by authoritative names on the Italian scene. Like Matteo Caccia, author and radio host, Stefano Mancuso, scientist and director of the International Laboratory of Plant Neurobiology, Alessandra Tedesco, journalist and host of Radio 24-Il Sole 24 Ore, Roberto Vecchioni. Again, Daria Galateria, Professor of French Literature at La Sapienza University of Rome, Rita Librandi, Professor emerita of Italian Linguistics and History of the Italian language and Vice President of the Accademia della Crusca, Daniela Brogi, Professor of Contemporary Italian Literature, University for Foreigners of Siena.
But who, among the five selected by the experts, will be the winner, will be decided by the famous person Jury of Three Hundred Anonymous Readers. Three hundred ordinary people – teachers, professionals, students, pensioners, entrepreneurs – will receive the five finalist books during the summer and will read them without pressure or editorial dynamics. Then they will vote for their favorite.
Distributed throughout all the regions of Italy and representing various social and professional categories, these lucky readers are selected year after year and They are obliged to remain anonymous until voting closes. Each juror can participate in only one edition.
This is the heart of Campiello, established in 1962 by industrialists from the Veneto: the reason that has contributed to building its identity over the years. Campiello wants to remain close to real readers, not just literary circles.
A literary prize but close to real readers
Campiello’s five books are therefore never just a list of books: they are often a mirror of the present. Social themes, intimate stories, family memories, political reflections and new forms of storytelling end up inside. It is also for this reason that the prize still attracts strong media attention today: Campiello manages to photograph, year after year, the anxieties and desires of our time through narrative.
Doors open to new readers
In recent years Campiello has greatly expanded its range of action. Today there is not only the main prize, but also the Campiello Giovani and the Campiello Junior, dedicated respectively to young authors and children’s fiction.
It’s an important signal: the prize tries to build new readers and new writers, not just celebrate those already established. Now the wait moves to the summer, when the books of the five will begin their journey between festivals, presentations and debates. Then will come October, the Lido of Venice and the final verdict of the Trecento. And as always happens with Campiello, more than winning it will be important to leave a trace in the readers.