Football and beauty. That could be the claim for the 2026 edition of the Gran Galà del Calcio AIC. The entire project, and the final evening itself, celebrate the finest moments of the 2025/26 season: victories, goals, outstanding players, exceptional teams, talents on the rise. To celebrate all of this, Wonder Project — the agency behind the Gran Galà del Calcio AIC — made a series of choices that initially seemed almost wildly ambitious, even a little out of reach, before becoming reality.
Gianluca Cannizzo, CEO and Founder of Wonder Project, described the origins and evolution of the event in an interview: «We found ourselves with a ceremony that had enormous potential and tremendous appeal. So, together with the Italian Footballers’ Association and Demetrio Albertini, we said to ourselves: “Let’s think even bigger.” Then Serie A came on board, and from there the whole thing really took off. To put it simply: we aimed for the moon, we landed there, and now we’re enjoying the stars».
What did “aiming for the moon” and “landing there” mean in practice?
«When we started putting the event together, we asked ourselves: “What venue could truly represent the Gran Galà del Calcio AIC and give it a profile beyond Italy?” The idea was to take an award of national standing and give it a reach beyond the country’s borders. So we started dreaming, aiming for the moon. Our moon was Teatro alla Scala in Milan. In the end, it agreed to host the event. It was no small undertaking. We made a bold choice, and we also made sacrifices to be able to hold the event in a venue of such prestige. It was a major ambition of ours. It seemed impossible, and yet we made it happen».
But that is not the only major change this year.
«No. We also wanted the evening to be broadcast free-to-air on TV8, so that the Gran Galà del Calcio could reach a national audience directly and gain even greater visibility. Last year we had 100 accredited media outlets — this year, even more. Another important step is the patronage of the Municipality of Milan and the possibility of installing a 20-metre backdrop outside the theatre. It means the public can come into direct contact with the players, the leading figures of the evening. It really is a show».
The Gran Galà del Calcio AIC, then, extends beyond the pitch and becomes part of the wider culture of the game.
«We received a huge number of requests from influencers who wanted to attend, and we invited numerous talents from outside football. Before the ceremony, we organised an opening performance inspired by the traditions and values of Teatro alla Scala. So yes, our pursuit of beauty through the Gran Galà del Calcio AIC goes well beyond matches, results and goals. At Wonder Project, we see it as the most beautiful expression of football away from the pitch. And in that sense, we feel a real responsibility».
Because football can, and should, be a vehicle for positive values, starting with beauty itself.
«Exactly. We have always wanted to take this meeting point between football and culture as far as possible, presenting the excellence of Serie A through an event that, in some ways, we believe is even more beautiful and complete than those held abroad. The league and its protagonists — the players — have an enormous reach. Italy has great champions, and our football has a global audience. That is why I speak of responsibility. The award resonates beyond Italy too, and we want to show what makes us special. Who knows, perhaps one day there will be an international spin-off. For now, though, let’s enjoy an edition that is so important, so transformative».