Biagio Agnes Prize 2026

The awards ceremony for the 18th edition of the Biagio Agnes Prize - International Award for Journalism, Information, and Communication takes place on Thursday, June 25th, in the splendid setting of Piazza di Spagna in Rome. The event will air next Friday, July 3rd, late at night on Rai1. As is now tradition, it will be hosted by Mara Venier and Alberto Matano, beloved faces of television audiences. They will welcome high-ranking institutional representatives and leading professionals in information, entertainment, and culture to the prestigious stage in the capital, alternating moments of reflection, entertainment, and music. The jury, chaired by Gianni Letta, selected the winners by selecting the best professionals in the Italian information landscape, across print and television, new languages, and literature, who contribute every day to ensuring citizens have free, informed, and in-depth knowledge of the facts.

The primary objective of this prestigious award is to promote and protect the most courageous and rigorous journalism as an essential pillar of democracy and freedom, in the knowledge that accurate, authoritative, and independent information is a fundamental tool for navigating the complexity of the present and truly understanding the scope of the changes shaping our times.

In the 2026 edition, the Printed Paper Award will be presented to Paolo Bricco, correspondent for Il Sole 24 Ore, for his ability to explore economics and industrial policy with analytical rigor and historical depth. Giovan Battista Brunori, head of the RAI Middle East Bureau in Jerusalem, and Andrea Nicastro of Corriere della Sera, an expert on war scenarios and sensitive fronts, will win the Correspondents Award for their work covering conflicts, borders, and clashes between peoples. For their testimony and presence in the most crucial and sensitive places, the Correspondents Award will go to Rosalba Castelletti of la Repubblica and Leonardo Panetta of Mediaset. The Special Freedom of the Press Award will be presented to the daily newspaper La Stampa, its editor Andrea Malaguti, and the editorial staff following the attack and intimidation by a group of Askatasuna opponents on November 29, 2025, and for the courage shown by journalists in daily defense of their work and their autonomy. Professionalism, empathy, and quality entertainment: these are the reasons why the Television Award is presented to two leading figures of the small screen: Gerry Scotti, a longtime face of generalist television and a model of hosting that combines restraint, authority, and closeness to viewers; and Stefano De Martino, the embodiment of a new generation of hosts who engages with diverse audiences with irony and ease. The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to Lino Banfi in recognition of his unique talent and exceptional artistic journey, which, spanning over six decades, has made him one of the most beloved figures in Italian entertainment. With his extraordinary ability to transcend genres and generations, he continues to captivate audiences and represent a key figure in Italy's cultural and artistic landscape. Celebrating the return of Emilio Salgari's saga, fifty years after the historic Rai drama, the Audiovisual Award was given to the event series Sandokan, starring Can Yaman as the new face of the Malaysian tiger, Alessandro Preziosi, and Alanah Bloor, directed by Jan Maria Michelini and Nicola Abbatangelo. Arianna Ravelli, deputy editor for digital at La Gazzetta dello Sport - the first woman to hold this role in the paper's 130-year history - received the Sports Journalism Award. For their insights and curated online journalism, Andrea Gerli, Rai per la Sostenibilità (Rai for Sustainability) - also for his work on the digital segment of Rai 3's In Mezz'ora program - and Guglielmo Nappi, editor-in-chief and web director of Il Messaggero, won the Generazione Digitale-Podcast Award. Claudio Cerasa, editor-in-chief of Il Foglio and author of the book The Antidote. Freedom, Environment, Technology. An Optimistic Manifesto Against the Dictatorship of Catastrophism (Silvio Berlusconi Editore), is awarded the Journalist and Writer Award, in recognition of his critical and analytical perspective on the present. Vincenzo Schettini, the face of "La fisica che ci piace" receives the Scientific Popularization Award for his academic expertise and strong communication talent, which have established him as one of the most popular popularizers, particularly among young people. The Under 30 Award is given to Il Messaggero journalist Valentina Pigliautile, an embodiment of the sensitivity of a new generation attentive to the institutional and social transformations of the country. Finally, the Creative Communication Award will be presented to the short film "Tutti suonano Sanremo" by Rai Communications, taken from the promotional campaign for the 2026 Sanremo Festival hosted by Carlo Conti: a journey through the country's finest musical institutions, including the Conservatories, places of education and excellence, where collective energy has given rise to an intimate and authentic portrait. The awards ceremony takes place in Rome's Piazza di Spagna, in the presence of Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and the Councilor for Major Events, Sport, Tourism, and Fashion Alessandro Onorato.

Photo: official poster of the event