On Friday evening February 7th 2026, before a packed audience at the Secci Theater, the final night of the 2026 Saint Valentine’s Award took place. The award was relaunched this year by the association Io Sono Una Persona per Bene (“I Am a Good Person”). The event was held over two evenings: the first on Thursday, and the second and final one on Friday, featuring the performance Il Respiro del Mondo (“The Breath of the World”), directed by Folco Napolini.
Following the performance, the awards ceremony took place. Among the recipients was the Mayor of Bethlehem, Maher Nicola Canawati, who said:
“Bethlehem is the city where Jesus Christ was born. It is in Palestine, and we are proud to be Palestinians. I am deeply honored to receive this award. It means a great deal to me and to the Palestinian people. It is an award that represents love and peace, and for a better future, love and peace are essential.”
The Mayor of Bethlehem received the award from the President of the Umbria Region, Stefania Proietti.
Also attending the event were Sauro Pellerucci, President of the association Io Sono Una Persona per Bene; Stefano Lupi, representing the Assisi Peace Center; and Stefano Bandecchi, Mayor of Terni. The audience also included numerous representatives of local institutions.
In addition to Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati, the other award recipients were:
- Vincenzo Mollica – journalist, writer, illustrator, television author, and TV and radio presenter.
- Valter Stoppini – Mayor of Assisi.
- Sergio Bellucci – writer, journalist, and Academic Director of the University’s Faculty of Artificial Intelligence.
- Valentina Vittori – entrepreneur and representative of Confapi Donna.
- Mirko Frezza – actor and social activist.
(Report by Maria Giulia Pensosi.)
