Awards

Il Circolo Awards 2026 – Innovation and Knowledge

Throughout the year, Il Circolo organises events and fundraising initiatives to support talented students and young researchers through scholarships and awards.

For 2026, the selected theme is “Innovation and Knowledge.” The Award will recognise projects that demonstrate how progress in both the sciences and the humanities is rooted in the intellectual, ethical, and cultural legacy of previous generations, transforming this heritage into new perspectives, ideas, and innovation.

Three Awards of £4,000 each will be granted every year. The prizes will be allocated to outstanding projects addressing the theme “Innovation and Knowledge.”

The Il Circolo Awards will be presented in December during Italy Made Me, the prestigious initiative promoted by the Italian Embassy in London. As part of its commitment to nurturing young talent, Il Circolo also funds two scholarships each year for young Italian researchers through this initiative.

The 2025 Il Circolo Awards were presented to three outstanding postgraduate students: Alfredo Conte, Lorenzo de’ Mauro, and Giovanni Tagliani.

Applications

If you would like to apply for the Il Circolo Awards 2026, please follow the information on how to enter your candidacy for the Awards:

“Innovation and Knowledge” – Il Circolo Awards 2026

Below is the list of all the information on how to enter your candidacy for the Awards:

1. Applicants of any nationality are welcome to apply. However, in order to align with Il Circolo’s mission of promoting Italian culture in the United Kingdom, each project must demonstrate a meaningful connection to Italy or to Italian cultural heritage. This connection may take different forms, including (but not limited to): a comparative theme involving both the UK and Italy;  a research, creative work, or an initiative that is relevant and applicable in both countries.
2. The project will demonstrate a significant connection to Italian cultural heritage, or, alternatively, the applicant may hold a valid Italian passport or national identity card.
3. Il Circolo Award will be granted to deserving students who will present their project in whatever discipline they are studying.
4. The participants will have to prepare a ‘’Why me’’ essay no longer than 400 words, describing their projects and the reasons why they believe they should be awarded the scholarship.
5. Entries can be submitted by students of any nationality as long as they are residents in the U.K. and attending a British or Italian Higher Education Institution, either at the undergraduate or postgraduate level.

Candidates are required to provide:

1. Application form. Click here to download the form;
2. An up-to-date C.V. (using the Europass format with academic qualifications in the original language);
3. The “Why me” essay;
4. Full postal address and contact numbers (mobile, e-mail);
5. One academic reference sent electronically;
6. Postgraduate students will not be considered unless they have already received a formal letter of acceptance to the proposed course of study/research for 2026/27 from the University or other Institutions. This should be sent together with 1, 2,3 & 4 above. If the documentation is incomplete, candidates cannot be considered.
   
   The complete documentation should be sent electronically to awards@ilcircolo.org.uk no later than midnight on Friday, 4th September 2026. Applications received after this date for whatever reason will not be considered. An email of confirmation will be sent upon receipt.
   

Candidates must be informed that:

1. The selected candidates will be interviewed in October 2026;
2. The winners will be presented with the award in December 2026 during a special ceremony at the Italian Embassy;
3. All the recipients of the awards must be prepared to have their names posted on Il Circolo – Italian Cultural Association’s website and socials;
4. Winners may be invited to take part in events and be asked to give a talk about their project for fundraising for the association’s charitable purposes;
5. The jury’s decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the results.

Introducing the Il Circolo Peter Crossley Music Award

Il Circolo is pleased to announce the launch of the Il Circolo Peter Crossley Music Award, a new £2,000 prize established to support and celebrate outstanding musical talent.
The award is open to emerging and early-career musicians, composers and performers working across all musical genres and traditions.
We invite applications from artists who demonstrate:

1. Exceptional artistic quality
2. Commitment to musical development and performance
3. A clear vision for how the award will support their artistic growth or project

Applications close on 4th September 2026.

Full eligibility criteria and application requirements are outlined in the guidelines below.