Bari: European Press Prize Award 2025, the annual awarding event of the European Press Prize

Bari is the city chosen to host the European Press Prize Award 2025 Ceremony, the annual award ceremony for the European Press Prize promoted by the Dutch foundation of the same name which is hosted every year by a different European city. The appointment, co-organized in Bari by Cime, will take place on May 28th at the Kursaal Santalucia Theatre and will welcome more than one hundred of the most prestigious names in independent journalism, from Italy and all European countries, together with important stakeholders and members of the local journalistic community.

Every year the ceremony moves to a different European city, in line with the mission of the European Press Prize Foundation aimed at supporting quality journalism across the continent and that allows journalists to meet in different cultural and socio-economic contexts, facilitating dialogue between the international and local journalistic communities.

This year's choice fell on the capital of Puglia after twelve editions in which the protagonists were European capital cities: before Bari, in fact, the Award took place in Amsterdam, London, Copenhagen, Prague, Budapest, Warsaw, Berlin, Madrid and Tbilisi. A decision, this, with which The European Press Prize Foundation has recognized the fundamental role that the Puglia region and its capital play in Europe and the Mediterranean basin from a geopolitical, cultural and social point of view. Hence the partnership with Cime, a Puglia-based company that has been active for years in the organization of international events, including the ultra-decade-long Bari edition of the World Press Photo Exhibition, which this year will bring to Bari one of the most important international events in the journalistic, cultural and lifestyle sectors.

The organization of the event will be made possible thanks to the support of the Puglia Region and the collaboration of the Municipality of Bari, who shared the vision of making the city ​​a point of reference for journalism and press freedom in Europe.

Now in its thirteenth year, the European Press Prize celebrates international journalistic excellence by promoting a culture based on awareness of the profession's fundamental social responsibility.. Furthermore, through its annual activities, the foundation acts as connector capable of creating shared spaces between journalists from all over Europe, allowing networking, the meeting of values, the activation of debates and new ideas. The Preparatory Committee is currently reviewing all the nominations for this year's awards before passing the shortlist to the Jury. The winners and finalists of each category will be announced during the May ceremony to be held in the Teatro Kursaal Santalucia in Bari.

“We are thrilled to host in Bari an event that celebrates the excellence of independent journalism and that has crossed some of the main European capitals – adds the Mayor of Bari, Vito Leccese -. A choice that consolidates our growth path for assuming a central role in the European cultural panorama, and for this we thank entities such as Cime, committed for years to attracting major international events to our city. We will be ready, in an extraordinary month for Bari, to welcome the participants in the event, which I am sure will stimulate debate and discussion among professionals in the sector, contributing to to underline the importance of freedom of the press in the world, which is more fundamental today than ever”.

“We are proud to announce that Italy will host the 2025 European Press Prize Award Ceremony for the first time. - Explains Vito Cramarossa, director of Cime -. The event, of international importance, will be held in Bari on May 28, offering an important opportunity to promote independent journalism and its fundamental values. Such a prestigious event was made possible thanks to the decisive role of the Puglia Region and the precious support of the Municipality of Bari and the Order of Journalists of Puglia, which contributed to making our territory emerge as a point of reference for cultural and social debate at a European level.

This project fits perfectly into CIME's ambitions of stimulate the growth of local communities, particularly in Puglia, offering visions and stories capable of broadening our cultural horizons. We are certain that the participation of finalists and guests from all over Europe will make Bari a place of dialogue and comparison, promoting essential values ​​such as freedom of expression and the right to information”.

“Collaborating with Cime for the 2025 awards ceremony in Bari was a natural choice, especially given our commitment to creating meaningful connections between our European network of journalists and the local journalistic community in every city we visit - declares Jennifer Athanasiou-Prins, Executive Director of the European Press Prize -. With their extensive experience in the local and national journalistic landscape and their shared commitment to promoting independent journalism and exchange between international and local communities, Cime perfectly embodies the values ​​of the European Press Prize. The expertise and reputation earned in the field as the main Italian partner of the World Press Photo Foundation, then, makes Cime a valuable collaborator for this special event”.

“It is an honour for Puglia and Bari to host, for the first time in Italy, the European Press Prize ceremony, one of the most prestigious journalistic awards at a global level. - Explains Michele Emiliano, President of the Puglia Region -. Over the years, This award has highlighted the excellence of information professionals who, with their investigations, have given voice to stories of extraordinary impact on public opinion.

In an era marked by a decline in trust in the media and institutions, in which disinformation, fake news and post-truth influence public debate, recognising quality journalism becomes an essential act for the health of our democracies. For this reason, next May 28th, welcoming the Award and its community of independent journalists and professionals in the Kursaal Santalucia Theatre will be a unique opportunity for us to discuss and participate. I thank Cime and its director Vito Cramarossa for bringing a great event like this here: for the Region, supporting it means giving strength to all the free voices of journalists, who embody a role fundamental to our civil growth".