Gran Galà del Calcio 2026: Inter Stars Dominate Nominations

Milan's iconic Teatro alla Scala will host the Gran Galà del Calcio AIC 2026 on September 2nd, celebrating the outstanding figures of the Italian football season. This prestigious event, organized by the Italian Footballers' Association (AIC) in partnership with Serie A League and supported by the Municipality of Milan, commences at 7 PM. It will be broadcast live on Sky Sport and, starting at 9:20 PM, on free-to-air TV8. The choice of La Scala, a global symbol of Italian cultural excellence, further elevates the gala's prestige.

Among the most anticipated awards is the 'Vota il Gol' (Vote for the Goal) prize, recognizing the most spectacular goal of the 2025-2026 season, as chosen by the fans. AIC President Umberto Calcagno highlighted the "valuable institutional synergy" that underscores the award's significance in the football landscape. Gianni Grazioli, General Manager of AIC, emphasized the authenticity of the awards, stating, "It's a special recognition because it stems from the votes of those who live our sport daily: the players, who judge their colleagues, making the award genuine and honoring merit."

Ezio Simonelli, President of Serie A League, expressed his commitment to supporting AIC in organizing the Gran Galà, calling it "a prestigious event for our entire movement." He added that the growth of Serie A is also dependent on "the ability to work as a unified system." Luigi De Siervo, CEO of Serie A League, described La Scala as "a symbolic location of Italian excellence," noting that Serie A serves as "the stage where the new international football stars showcase their talent."

Awards will be presented for Goalkeeper, Defenders, Midfielders, and Forwards of the Year, leading to the selection of the Overall Best Player. Additional accolades include Coach of the Year, Referee of the Year, Club of the Year, and the best young talents in Serie A and Serie B.

Notable nominees for Coach of the Year include Cristian Chivu, Cesc Fabregas, and Gian Piero Gasperini. For Referee of the Year, the contenders are Andrea Colombo, Daniele Doveri, and Maurizio Mariani. In the running for Club of the Year are Como 1907, Inter, and Roma.

The nominees for Goalkeeper of the Year are Marco Carnesecchi, Mike Maignan, and Mile Svilar. The Defensive category features Manuel Akanji, Alessandro Bastoni, Gleison Bremer, Federico Dimarco, Denzel Dumfries, Mario Gila, Marco Palestra, Evan Ndicka, Oumar Solet, and França Wesley.

Midfield nominations include Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Manu Kone, Scott McTominay, Luka Modric, Adrien Rabiot, and Piotr Zielinski. For the Forward of the Year award, the nominees are Rafael Leao, Lautaro Martinez, Donyell Malen, Nico Paz, Marcus Thuram, and Kenan Yildiz.

The 2026 edition will also commemorate the 20th anniversary of Italy's 2006 World Cup triumph, with a special tribute to the heroes of that historic victory.