Michele Mari won the Premio Strega 2026 on July 9 with his novel "I convitati di pietra" [1, 2].
The victory marks a significant moment for Mari, as he secures Italy's most prestigious literary prize despite recent public controversies. The award reinforces the influence of his prose within the Italian literary canon and signals a separation between the author's personal public statements and his artistic output.
The ceremony took place at the Campidoglio in Rome [3, 4]. Mari emerged victorious among a pool of six finalists [5]. His work received 190 votes [6], the highest number of the group, ensuring his win in the competition.
This victory follows a period of scrutiny for the author. Mari had faced backlash and controversy regarding statements he made concerning Michela Murgia [7, 8]. Despite these tensions, the voting body favored his latest novel, effectively moving the focus back to the literary merits of the text.
"I convitati di pietra" was published by Einaudi [2]. The novel's success at the Strega suggests a strong reception by the jury and the voting members, who prioritized the narrative, and stylistic achievements of the book over the external debates surrounding the author's persona [7, 9].
“Michele Mari won the Premio Strega 2026 with his novel "I convitati di pietra"”
The result indicates that the Premio Strega jury and voting members continue to prioritize aesthetic and literary value over the social or political controversies involving an author. By awarding Mari the prize despite the friction caused by his comments on Michela Murgia, the institution reaffirms a traditionalist approach to literary criticism where the work is judged independently of the creator.
