The winner of the Campiello Prize 2026 is the Sardinian writer Marcello Fois with L’immensa distrazione (Einaudi), who earns 83 votes, ahead of Alcide Pierantozzi, author of Lo sbilico (Einaudi), who finishes with 80.
Thus, only three points separate the two Via Biancamano authors. And after the victory of the Premio Strega 2026 by Michele Mari, the Turin-based publishing house this year also takes the Campiello.
The 64th edition of the prestigious award promoted and managed by the Fondazione Il Campiello – Confindustria Veneto was, as always, decided by the vote of the Giuria dei trecento lettori anonimi, “composed of people of different ages, professions and geographical origins, whose names remain secret until the final evening.” A mechanism that, “since the prize’s first edition in 1963, has represented one of Campiello’s distinguishing elements and safeguards its independence and the transparency of judgment,” the prize organizers explain.
In Venice, the final evening has just concluded. This year’s finale was hosted at the Palazzo del Cinema del Lido, and was moderated by Alessio Viola and Arianna Porcelli Safonov. The musical guest of the final evening was the singer-songwriter and director Margherita Vicario.
The Campiello 2026 Final Five
Also contending for the “vera da pozzo,” the well bucket that serves as the Prize’s symbol, were Elena Varvello with La vita sempre (Guanda), in third place with 54 votes, Valeria Parrella with La ragazzina (Feltrinelli), in fourth with 33 votes, and Ermanno Cavazzoni, fifth with Storia di un’amicizia (Quodlibet), which earned 32 votes.
The five finalists were voted on last May 29 by the Giuria dei Letterati, chaired by Roberto Cicutto, among the 62 books admitted to the competition by the Technical Committee and selected by the Jury.
The Other Awards
Remember that the Campiello Opera Prima 2026 prize was awarded to Nadeesha Uyangoda, a Italophone writer born in Sri Lanka, already author of the memoir L’unica persona nera nella stanza and the essay Corpi che contano (66thand2nd), for Acqua sporca (Einaudi).
As for the Premio Fondazione Il Campiello, a career recognition established in 2010, it went to Domenico Starnone.
Among the awards already announced, there is also the Campiello Junior, which honored Rosella Postorino and Daniele Mencarelli, and the 31st edition of Campiello Giovani, won by Matteo Ghisleri with the short story Ricalcolo percorso.
