Strega Poetry Prize 2026: here is the dozen finalists among 138 books

There are 138 books that participated in the first selection phase of the Premio Strega Poesia 2026, now in its fourth edition. Among these, the Scientific Committee of the Prize - composed of Maria Grazia Calandrone, Andrea Cortellessa, Mario Desiati, Elisa Donzelli, Roberto Galaverni, Vivian Lamarque, Patricia Peterle, Stefano Petrocchi, Laura Pugno, Antonio Riccardi, and Gian Mario Villalta - has chosen the twelve works that advance to the selection of the final five.

This is the dozen: Alberto Bertoni with "Semplici abbandoni" (Einaudi); Vito M. Bonito with "Firmamento (1990-2025)" (Argolibri); Franco Buffoni with "Poesie 1975-2025" (Mondadori); Azzurra D’Agostino with "Cosmic Latte" (Marcos y Marcos); Sofia Fiorini with "Il passero bianco" (Vallecchi); Carmen Gallo with "Procne Machine" (Einaudi); Federico Italiano with "Godzilla e altre poesie" (Guanda); Isabella Leardini with "Maniere nere" (Mondadori); Fabrizio Lombardo with "La linea spezzata" (Donzelli); Vincenzo Ostuni with "Faldone" (Il Saggiatore); Fabio Pusterla with "Fiumi nefrite vortici" (Marcos y Marcos); Giovanna Rosadini with "Cicatrici" (Einaudi).

The authors and authors nominated were announced today, on the occasion of the World Poetry Day, at Libri Come - Festa del Libro e della Lettura, taking place in Rome at the Auditorium Parco della Musica "Ennio Morricone". Giovanni Solimine, president of the Maria and Goffredo Bellonci Foundation, Giuseppe D’Avino, president of Strega Alberti Benevento, and members of the Scientific Committee Maria Grazia Calandrone, Andrea Cortellessa, Elisa Donzelli, Patricia Peterle, Stefano Petrocchi, and Laura Pugno were present. The dozen will be present on April 10, in Rome, at the 20th edition of "Ritratti di Poesia". The announcement of the final five will take place on May 16 at the International Book Fair of Turin. A large jury composed of cultural figures will then determine the winner. The award will be presented on October 13, at the Casa dell’Architettura di Roma at the monumental complex of the Acquario Romano.