The Lifebility Award, a competition promoted by the Italian Lions Clubs, returns for its 2026 edition, offering young innovators the opportunity to present ideas and projects with high social impact aimed at improving their communities.
Now in its 16th edition, the initiative supports solutions that simplify and make public and private services more accessible, with a strong focus on innovation, sustainability and responsibility towards the most vulnerable people.
The Lifebility Award is organised by Lions for Lifebility Italia ETS, a non-profit Third Sector organisation made up mainly of Lions Club members. Founded in Milan and later expanded nationwide, the competition aims to raise young people’s awareness of social issues and ethical innovation, promoting projects that can concretely improve quality of life in cities and local areas.
In 2026, the unifying theme of the competition is longevity, mainly intended as quality of life, especially in the most delicate stages of existence, which participants are invited to address with innovative, inclusive and sustainable solutions.
The competition rules
The initiative is open to:
- individuals aged between 18 and 35, with Italian citizenship or residency in Italy;
- project teams, provided that the contact person is between 18 and 35 years old.
Projects must aim to improve public and
private services and will be evaluated based on three main criteria:
- innovation and digitalisation, with particular attention to the smart use of technology to generate social value;
- impact on the community, especially for the benefit of the most vulnerable groups;
- feasibility and sustainability, also in view of potential entrepreneurial development.
Proposals can be submitted in four
strategic macro-areas:
- health;
- ecological transition;
- social innovation;
- new spaces for liveability.
Early-stage projects will also be accepted and may benefit from the support of tutors in defining the business plan and development model, making the Lifebility Award not only a competition but also a pathway for mentoring and growth.
Prizes and opportunities
All finalists will have access to a tutoring programme with professionals and experts from the Lions network and the innovation ecosystem.
The following prizes in cash are foreseen:
- the winning projects in each of the four macro-areas will receive a cash
prize of €4,000;
- a special prize of €2,500 will be awarded to the project that best
interprets the theme of longevity.
In
addition, prizes in services are also available:
- finalists will take part in a study trip to Brussels, focused on discovering economic development trends and the opportunities offered by the European Union to startups;
- winners who launch a start-up will be able to benefit, on request, from one year of free consulting provided by Lions professionals with expertise in economic, tax, legal and management matters;
- competition sponsors may offer internship opportunities to selected finalists.
How to join the initiative
Participation is free of charge. Projects must be submitted by 31 March 2026 according to the instructions available on the official competition website, where candidates can also find the full rules and the application form.
After the call for applications closes, the pre-selection committee will choose up to 24 finalists, distributed across the four categories, each of whom will be supported by a tutor to further develop their idea.
The programme includes three key milestones:
- by 31 March 2026: project submission and closing of applications;
- 24 May 2026: official announcement of the winners during the National Lions Congress in Milan, Italy;
- 11 June 2026: final award ceremony, also in Milan.
For further information, it is possible to write an email to info@lifebilityaward.com.
If you have an innovative idea that can improve people’s lives and contribute to a fairer and more sustainable society, apply to the Lifebility Award 2026 and turn your project into reality!
