Three and a half hours to celebrate Maria Carta, the artists (and others) who bring prestige to Sardinia with music, culture, and entrepreneurial prowess. Siligo in the main square and live broadcasts by Videolina and Radiolina offered a substantial evening for the 23rd Award, dedicated to a woman who left a legacy that continues to live on.
Sandra Ligas, a singer-songwriter from Cagliari who long ago moved to Germany but continues to hold firm to her island roots, was present to accept the award. Rapper/rocker Salmo, meanwhile, sent a video of himself receiving the plaque and promising to visit the museum dedicated to Maria Carta in 2026, whose voice he featured on the opening track of his new song "On Fire."
The Sella & Mosca company and the Shardana Cultural Association of Warsaw were also honored. The evening concluded with a mini acoustic concert by Eugenio Bennato, the third honoree, for his support and promotion of Southern Italian music for over half a century.
The evening's guests included a substantial list of performers: the children's folk group from the "Città di Tempio" Academy of Popular Traditions; the Fantafolk duo, Vanni Masala and Andrea Pisu; Polish singer Martyna Kasprzyk-Peralta and guitarist Gavino Loche; harpist Raoul Moretti and Beppe Dettori; Alghero singer-songwriter Davide Casu; the tenor group "Remunnu e' Locu" from Bitti; and, closing the evening, the Siligo folk group "Santa Maria de Bubalis."