Winners of the 45th MASI AWARD announced

The awards ceremony will be held on Friday 16 October with the traditional signature on the Amarone barrel , the symbol of the award, at the historic Masi cellars and, following, the awards ceremony in the new multifunctional complex Monteleone21 .

They thus enter the prestigious roll of honor of Venetian Civilization :

• Luigi Carlon , entrepreneur and collector from Verona, founder of the Index company, who with Palazzo Maffei Casa Museo transformed his passion for art into a cultural project open to his city;

• Nello Cristianini , a scientist from Gorizia who teaches Artificial Intelligence at the University of Bath in England, at the forefront of international research on AI;

• Venice Gardens Foundation , chaired by Adele Re Rebaudengo , a non-profit foundation created with the aim of protecting, restoring and enhancing the heritage of Venice's historic gardens, contributing to the harmonious relationship between spirit and nature.

The International Civiltà del Vino Award is awarded to David Khayat , an internationally renowned French oncologist and communicator, who, with his original and unconventional approach to cancer prevention, has helped challenge some commonplaces about the relationship between nutrition, health, and wine.

The Venetian Grosso D'Oro is awarded to Reporters Sans Frontières , an international non-profit organization committed to defending the freedom, pluralism and independence of journalism and the protection of journalists, represented by its director general Thibaut Bruttin.

Below and attached is the press release with further information and statements from Isabella Bossi Fedrigotti, President of the Masi Foundation, Sandro Boscaini , Vice President of the Foundation and President of Masi, and Marco Vigevani , Secretary General of the Masi Foundation.

The Masi Foundation announces the winners of the 45th edition of the Masi Prize , the award that since 1981 has celebrated national and international figures representing civilization, culture, and civic commitment in the heart of Valpolicella. The following are now joining the prestigious roll of honor of Civiltà Veneta : Luigi Carlon , a Veronese entrepreneur and collector, founder of the Index company, who with Palazzo Maffei Casa Museo transformed his passion for art into a cultural project open to his city; Nello Cristianini , a scientist from Gorizia who teaches Artificial Intelligence at the University of Bath in England, and is at the forefront of international AI research ; and the Venice Gardens Foundation , chaired by Adele Re Rebaudengo , a non-profit foundation established with the aim of protecting, restoring, and enhancing the heritage of Venice's historic gardens, contributing to the harmonious relationship between spirit and nature.

The Civiltà del Vino goes to David Khayat , an internationally renowned French oncologist and populariser, who with his original and unconventional approach to cancer prevention has helped to question some commonplaces on the relationship between nutrition, health and wine; while the Grosso D'Oro Veneziano is awarded to Reporters Without Borders , an international non-profit organization committed to defending the freedom, pluralism and independence of journalism and the protection of journalists, represented by its director general Thibaut Bruttin .

"The courage of responsibility" is the common denominator of this year's Masi Prize. The current historical period calls into question geopolitical, economic, and social structures, and with them, democratic systems themselves. At the same time, new technologies and the development of artificial intelligence are fueling a race for innovation increasingly monopolized by a few uncontrollable "pilots." In this context, it's clear that responsibility requires courage and asserts itself as an ethical and civic necessity.

Each of us is called to "respond" with our own choices and actions to the community and to others and to put the common good before personal or group interests, even by going against the grain.

Isabella Bossi Fedrigotti , president of the Masi Foundation, sums it up: “ Why this choice? Because now more than ever, in the global disaster surrounding us—yes, we can truly call it a disaster—we all need, from ordinary citizens to top-ranking politicians, a strong sense of responsibility as well as the courage to face reality, however difficult it may be . It is this courage that we find in our Venetian Civilization award recipients: in Luigi Carlon, for his bold decision to open his private art collection to the city; in the Venice Gardens Foundation, for his commitment to generating harmony, peace, and respect for nature in a Venice as exceptional as it is fragile; and in Nello Cristianini, for his contribution to understanding the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence and new technologies .”

" Wine is part of our culture and our civilization: if experienced with balance and awareness, it is an expression of pleasure and well-being. In this vision, founded on moderation and the humanistic relationship between science and society, we identify with David Khayat, winner of the 2026 Civiltà del Vino Award. In his treatise "Arrêtez de vous priver!", the internationally renowned French oncologist and popularizer, unconventionally and courageously invites us to enjoy wine and food to restore meaning to our lives," says Sandro Boscaini , Vice President of the Masi Foundation and President of Masi Agricola.

" At a time when press freedom is more fragile than ever, Reporters Without Borders, the 2026 Venetian Grosso d'Oro, plays an essential role in protecting journalists and combating all forms of manipulation and distortion of information. This commitment requires courage and determination, especially when the truth of the facts and citizens' right to free and reliable information are at stake ," comments Marco Vigevani , Secretary General of the Masi Foundation .

On Friday, October 16 , after the traditional signing of the Amarone barrel , the symbol of the award, at the historic Masi cellars , the awards ceremony will continue at the new Monteleone21 multipurpose complex in Gargagnago di Valpolicella . The event will be enriched by the voices of the award winners in a debate moderated by journalist Alessandro Milan.