Franco Zeffirelli Award

The Franco Zeffirelli Foundation and the Zeffirelli Trust for the International Centre for the Performing Arts announce the establishment of the Franco Zeffirelli Award, a new recognition designed to honour the artistic legacy of the Maestro and to celebrate the professions that keep the language of theatre, opera, and audiovisual arts alive.

The first edition will take place in Florence on 16 February 2026, in the Maestro’s hometown, confirming the city’s central role in the international landscape of the performing arts.

 

A prize dedicated to vision, quality, and artistic craftsmanship

The Franco Zeffirelli Award aims to highlight established and emerging figures who demonstrate artistic rigor, technical excellence, and aesthetic vision in the fields of directing, set design, and costume design.

The spirit of the Award reflects Zeffirelli’s enduring influence on 20th-century visual culture: a commitment to creativity shaped by precision, imagination, and attention to detail.

Each year, the Award will be presented to professionals who have distinguished themselves through the creation of works of outstanding artistic and technical merit, with particular attention to major productions, historical reconstructions, and innovative approaches.

 

The international jury

The Award will be entrusted to a distinguished international jury of leading professionals in set and costume design::

• Raimonda Gaetani (President), set designer, costume designer, and art director
• Madeline Fontaine (France), costume designer
• Lindy Hemming (United Kingdom), costume designer
• Jean Rabasse (France), set designer
• Inbal Weinberg (United States), set designer

The jury’s work will be supported by the consultative contributions of national academies, performing arts schools, theatres, and major cultural institutions.

 

A programme for the next generation

In the days leading up to the ceremony, the Zeffirelli Foundation will host a programme of cultural and educational events dedicated to students from film schools, art academies, and international training institutions.

Masterclasses, talks with professionals, screenings, and thematic sessions will offer young participants a valuable opportunity to engage with the history of the performing arts and with the artistic legacy of Zeffirelli, fostering a meaningful dialogue between tradition and contemporary creativity.

 

A symbol of art and beauty

The Award, created by Paolo Penko, will be represented by an gold-plated statuette, inspired by a character from one of the productions directed by Zeffirelli—an emblem of his artistic vision and distinctive aesthetic language.

The Franco Zeffirelli Award positions itself as a new international appointment dedicated to artistic excellence, grounded in the belief that beauty, when born of study, dedication, and creative skill, becomes a shared heritage.