The Irpinia photography contest: Emotions of Irpinia

The 14th edition of the photography contest showcasing Irpinia

There is a land best told through a gaze rather than a thousand words: Irpinia. For thirteen years, the emotions it evokes have taken shape in your photographs. *Emozioni d’Irpinia* (Emotions of Irpinia) returns—the photography contest that puts the landscapes, villages, traditions, and people of this extraordinary land center stage. Over thirteen editions, we have gathered more than 20,000 photographs that have taken hearts and eyes far beyond the province’s borders—onto social media, into calendars, and into the homes of those who truly live in and love this land. Each photograph has served as a small, precious piece of the puzzle in telling the story of authentic Irpinia, encouraging more and more people to discover it, explore it, and fall in love with it.

This year, the contest is getting a fresh look and becoming even bigger: more prizes, more excitement, and a community that keeps growing. Grab your camera, look around with curious eyes, and share your “Emotion of Irpinia” with us—it could be the star of the 2027 calendar.

New for this year—the 2027 edition of *Emozioni d’Irpinia* enjoys the invaluable support of five main sponsors: Vitros Trading S.p.A., Kia Motors, Ciemme Edile, Colella Industrie Zootecniche, and Banca BCC Flumeri. This is concrete, essential support for continuing to tell the story of Irpinia and showcase its value through photography.

How to participate

Participating is incredibly simple and truly open to everyone. Just look around with curious eyes, seize the moment, and send your shots to emozionidirpinia@gmail.com.

All photographs received will be published online on the Info Irpinia Facebook page, helping to showcase the extraordinary beauty of our territory.

Posts on the Facebook page will begin on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 12:00 PM, featuring the location depicted and the author’s name. You can start right away—don’t wait; send us your emotions!

Theme — Each photo must tell a story of an “Emotion of Irpinia”: a landscape, a village, a craft, a tradition, a daily gesture… anything that speaks the authentic language of our land.

The winners — The 13 most popular shots will make up the *Emozioni d’Irpinia* 2027 calendar: one for each month, plus one for the cover.

Prizes

The talent and passion of the participants will be celebrated during the official presentation of the *Emozioni d’Irpinia* 2027 calendar, scheduled for Friday, November 27, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the historic premises of the “Francesco De Sanctis” Agricultural Institute in Avellino, located at Via Tuoro Cappuccini. 44.

All the photographers behind the 13 winning images, selected for the *Emozioni d’Irpinia* 2027 calendar, will receive a certificate of recognition and a complimentary copy of the calendar.

In addition to these accolades, there are special prizes offered by the initiative’s partners and by Info Irpinia:

How are prizes won?

First, second, and third-place prizes will be awarded to the three photographs—chosen from the 13 winning entries—that achieve the highest overall scores in the final ranking, as determined by the combined evaluation of the Emotional Jury and the Technical Jury.

The “Tradizione” (Tradition) Award will be presented directly by Info Irpinia to the photograph that—through its subject, atmosphere, and narrative quality—best brings an Irpinian tradition to life, conveying the identity and memory of our region.

Finally, the “Like” Prize will be awarded to the photograph that receives the highest total number of “likes” on the Info Irpinia Facebook page during the contest.

Regulations

1. Participation is free and open to everyone.
   
2. Photos should be sent to the email address emozionidirpinia@gmail.com, including the author’s full name, the location where the photo was taken, the date, and a contact phone number.
   
3. Photos taken with any device (smartphone or camera) are eligible, provided they feature Irpinia as their central theme—including landscapes, traditions, villages, and all the wonders that define the region.
   
4. Each participant may submit up to 10 photographs.
   
5. The photos will be posted in dedicated albums on the Info Irpinia Facebook page and voted on by the more than 54,000 followers.
   
6. The photos will be published from September 1, 2026, to October 1, 2026, in the order in which they were received.
   
7. The 13 photos among the finalists that receive the highest number of likes on Facebook will be included in the *Emozioni d’Irpinia* 2027 calendar, along with the photographer’s name.
   
8. If a participant submits more than 10 photos, Info Irpinia will make a selection.
   
9. The photographs must be original, must not infringe upon the copyrights of others, and must be less than 8 years old.
   
10. Photos from previous editions may also be submitted, provided they were not winners.
    
11. Required format: horizontal (approximate 3:2 ratio). The cover image will be selected from the vertical photos; therefore, it is recommended to submit 9 horizontal shots and 1 vertical shot.
    
12. Watermarks (signatures), AI-generated modifications, and artificially added elements or artifacts (such as fake skies) are not permitted.
    
13. Photographs may depict individuals only with a signed release, or crowds and groups at traditional public events.
    
14. The photographs will be evaluated by two juries: the Emotional Jury (Info Irpinia), assessing emotional impact, and the Technical Jury (Foto Diego Avellino), assessing photographic quality. The most original photos will receive an extra half-point. The average of the two scores will generate an initial ranking; the top 15 photos will then compete on Facebook, vying for likes.
    
15. Participation implies full acceptance of these regulations, consent to the processing of personal data, authorization for Info Irpinia to publish photos online and offline—including after the contest has ended—and a waiver of any right of recourse against the winners (Presidential Decree 600, Art. 30 of 29/09/73).

The three-stage competition

Phase 1 — Collection and initial votes

It begins on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 12:00 PM with the publication of the first photos received. This phase will conclude on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 12:00 PM.

Photographs can be submitted starting now and will be published in the order received, within dedicated albums of 50 photos each.

Each “like” received will count as a vote, but please note: only likes from users who already follow the Info Irpinia Facebook page will be considered valid.

A quick strategic tip: the sooner you submit the photo, the more time you’ll have to gather support throughout the month.

Phase 2 — The juries’ assessment

At the end of the first phase (12:00 PM on October 1st), the two juries come into play: the Emotional Jury, organized by Info Irpinia, and the Technical Jury, organized by Foto Diego Avellino.

The first 400 photos, ranked by number of likes, will be evaluated; these likes will serve only to determine the order of review and provide an indication of popularity, but they will not, on their own, guarantee a place in the final. What will count is the average of the scores from the two juries.

Important message: simply racking up a lot of likes in the first phase isn’t enough—the only real way to reach the final is to take a high-quality, impactful photo.

At the end, the 15 photos with the highest average scores will advance to the final.

Phase 3 — The Final Challenge

The final will be an exciting 24-hour marathon: from 12:00 PM on Saturday, October 3, to 12:00 PM on Sunday, October 4, 2026.

A new album will feature only the 15 finalist photos selected by the juries. The 13 photos receiving the most likes during this period will be included in the *Emozioni d’Irpinia* 2027 Calendar—one for each month, accompanied by the photographer’s name. The vertical photo designated for the cover will be included regardless.

In the event of a tie, the shot receiving the highest rating from the Technical Jury in the second phase will prevail. If two photos depict the same subject or landscape, the one with the highest technical score in the second phase will win in this instance as well.

Naturally, the same golden rule always applies: the sooner you submit the photo, the more time you’ll have to gather likes throughout the month.

Award Ceremony

The awards ceremony will take place during the presentation event for the new *Emozioni d’Irpinia 2027* calendar, to be held in Avellino on Friday, November 27, 2026, at 6:00 PM, at the historic premises of the “Francesco De Sanctis” Agricultural Institute in Avellino, located at Via Tuoro Cappuccini. 44.

Last year, at the 13th edition, the first prize was awarded to young Pasquale Battaglia for a stunning shot of Rocca San Felice. For the awards ceremony, we had the pleasure of inviting the local mayor, who personally presented the prize to the winner, sharing a moment that highlighted the value of the entire community. This experience demonstrates how a single photograph can become an extraordinary tool for promoting the local area; we therefore invite all mayors in the Irpinia region to engage citizens, young people, and photography enthusiasts, encouraging them to tell the story of their town’s beauty, identity, and traditions through images.

This contest was created to showcase the beauty of Irpinia in a simple, direct, and participatory way, engaging anyone who wishes to tell the story of our land through images—and, in doing so, encouraging more and more people to discover and experience it. Those who do not share this spirit and the present rules are asked not to participate.

Wishing everyone wonderful experiences in Irpinia!