This year, the Italian Cultural Institute of Addis Ababa is once again participating in the Jury of the Premio Strega, Italy’s most prestigious literary award, which celebrates its 80th edition in 2026.
Since its establishment, the Premio Strega has reflected the cultural climate and literary tastes of the Italian public. The award-winning books have narrated the story of Italy, documenting its language, social changes, and traditions. Over the past eighty years, the Prize’s selections have encouraged Italian readers to explore themselves, their history, and their present through the lens of contemporary fiction.
On June 3 2026, the following six finalist books for the Premio Strega 2026 were announced:
1.Michele Mari, I convitati di pietra (Einaudi)
2. Matteo Nucci, Platone. Una storia d’amore (Feltrinelli)
3. Bianca Pitzorno, La sonnambula (Bompiani)
4. Teresa Ciabatti, Donnaregina (Mondadori)
5. Alcide Pierantozzi, Lo sbilico (Einaudi)
6. Elena Rui, Vedove di Camus (L’orma)
The winner of the Premio Strega 2026 will be announced on the closing ceremony, which will take place on 8 July 2026 in Piazza del Campidoglio, Rome, and will be broadcasted live on Rai television.
The President of the Strega Prize Steering Committee, renowned writer Melania Mazzucco, will be among the key guests of the Ethiopian edition of the Italian Language Week in the World (19–25 October 2026), which this year is dedicated to the theme: “Ingenious Language: Conceiving, Designing, and Creating in Italian”!