The friendship between two leading figures of Italian writing and the network of relationships surrounding them; a man who discovers he is dead and looks back over his life, caught between personal memories and shared history; the tale of a young, rebellious Joan of Arc, determined to follow her own path; an autobiographical account of mental illness and the power of words to shape human experience; a sweeping love story against the backdrop of the twentieth century.

Ahead of the announcement of the winner of the Premio Campiello 2026, the Pirelli Foundation interviewed the five finalist authors to find out more about their works and learn about their characters, storylines, and underlying themes.

During the week before the final evening, we shall post one video interview a day, offering a closer look at the key figures of this year’s Prize and the books that won over the Jury of Literary Experts.

Here is the full programme:

  • Monday 28 September 2026: Ermanno Cavazzoni – Storia di un’amicizia (Quodlibet)
  • Tuesday 29 September 2026: Marcello Fois – L’immensa distrazione (Einaudi)
  • Wednesday 30 September 2026: Valeria Parrella – La ragazzina (Feltrinelli)
  • Thursday 1 October 2026: Alcide Pierantozzi – Lo sbilico (Einaudi)
  • Friday 2 October 2026: Elena Varvello – La vita sempre (Guanda)

The Award Ceremony will take place on Saturday 3 October 2026 at the Palazzo del Cinema on the Lido of Venice, where the winner of the 64th Premio Campiello will be announced. The prize is backed once again this year by Pirelli as part of its commitment to encouraging reading, culture and dialogue between business and society.

Enjoy the show – and the read!