On June 9, 2026, JCU Writer in Residence Andrea Bajani, winner of the 2025 Premio Strega for his novel The Anniversary (L'anniversario, Feltrinelli, 2025), joined the finalists of the Italy Writes 2026 Creative Writing Competition as Professor Stephanie Richards announced the winners at the online award ceremony.
Bajani complimented these budding writers for their accomplishment in the contest, especially since they are not writing in their native language. Although he now lives and teaches in the US, he still writes books in his native Italian. He pointed out how mastering a different language influences our experience of a situation. It’s not just a linguistic skill – our thought processes also change. As a personal example, Bajani shared that he often uses English when he needs to discuss and resolve a complex problem. In this situation, he often prefers the clarity and structure of the English language to his native Italian. He encouraged students to continue their creative journey and be mindful of the impact that mastering new languages can have on their reasoning and their writing.
About the Italy Writes Competition
Since 2011, JCU’s Italy Writes Competition has fostered writing in English and the discovery of one’s personal creative voice in Italian high school students whose primary language of study is not English.
Participation for the 2026 edition has more than doubled since last year: 114 submissions were received from students representing 22 high schools in 13 cities across Italy (Roma, Pomezia, Sabaudia, Palestrina, Montefiascone, Cagliari, Francavilla Fontana, Pescara, Como, Firenze, Milano, and Venezia).
Students who participate in the Italy Writes Contest can also work with their teachers to earn certification of Formazione Scuola Lavoro (FSL) during their high school career. While Italy Writes does not provide writing workshops for students, it does foster Best Practices in teaching writing. JCU’s Programs for High Schools makes available to teachers a variety of resources as supplements their own creative writing workshops with their students. Resources are from JCU’s Writing Center and the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program.
The long-standing partnership between JCU’s Italy Writes and the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program (IWP) has continued the mission to support Italian high school teachers and students over the years. Special thanks go to the external member of the panel of judges, Cate Dicharry, Director of the IWP, and her team for their contribution to the resources Italy Writes makes available to teachers and students.
Winners of Italy Writes 2025-2026
Non-Fiction
- 1st Place Prize (€ 300 gift certificate) to Arianna Cordera, 5th year at Liceo G. Carducci, (Prof. Teresa Prisco) for Numb to Violence
- 2nd Place Prize (€ 200 gift certificate) to Zoe Spetrino, 3rd year at Liceo Tito Lucrezio Caro, (Prof. Serena Strianese) for Mafia
- 3rd Place Prize (€ 100 gift certificate) to Priscilla Imperio, Liceo Tito Lucrezio Caro (Prof. Serena Strianese) for Tito's Life in Gaza
Honorable Mention to Arianna Amaduzzi, Liceo Classico Dante Alighieri (Prof. Patrizia Caronna) for Indifference in the Age of Awareness.
Fiction
- 1st Place Prize (€ 300 gift certificate) to Camilla Marsico, 3rd year at Liceo Classico/Linguistico Statale Tito Lucrezio Caro (Prof. Serena Strianese) for Stilettos
- 2nd Place Prize (€ 200 gift certificate) to Thomas Guidi, 3rd year at Liceo Classico/Linguistico Statale Tito Lucrezio Caro, (Prof. Serena Strianese) for Nothing to Declare
- 3rd Place Prize (€ 100 gift certificate) to Elena Alberigi dei Conti Quaranta, 4th year at Liceo Classico/Linguistico Statale Aristofane (Prof. Luigi Elvio Lucioli) for Cold as Ice
Honorable Mention to Gianmarco Acquarola, 3rd year at Liceo Classico Linguistico Immanuel Kant (Prof. Claudia Bidolli), for The Last Bus Home.
Congratulations to the winners and the many students and teachers across Italy who participate in Italy Writes each year!
