The event brought together delegations from various Salesian communities across the country on a day when music became a space for evangelisation, encounter and witness. Through original compositions, stage productions and artistic expressions rich in meaning, the young people reaffirmed that art continues to be a privileged means of communicating hope and proclaiming the Gospel to the younger generations.
The top prize of this edition went to the delegation from the Santo Domingo Savio Centre and School, thanks to a comprehensive entry that stood out for its interpretative power, artistic quality and the depth of its message. The performance particularly impressed the jury and the audience, authentically conveying the spirit of Mary’s words at the wedding at Cana: “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5).
In addition to the main prize, the jury awarded several special prizes that highlighted the high standard of the entries presented during the festival.
The Salesian work “Santo Domingo Savio” from Jarabacoa received the award for Best Lyrics and Message, standing out for its spiritual depth and its ability to convey a message that was relatable and full of hope. The Salesians of Santiago were awarded the prize for Best Music and Instrumentation, thanks to the quality of their musical arrangements and instrumental harmony.
The award for “Best Vocal Performance” was presented to the Sagrado Corazón de Jesús house in Mao, for the technique and expressiveness of their performance.
For its part, the Salesian house of Cristo Rey in Barahona received the award for Best Performance and Stage Presence, standing out for its stage presence and connection with the audience. Furthermore, it won the award for Best Costumes and Characterisation, thanks to a visual aesthetic consistent with the content of its performance. Finally, it also received the award for Best Visual and Stage Presentation, standing out for its creativity in the use of stage design elements.
The Best Choreography category went to the young people from the María Auxiliadora centre, whose physical performance enriched the song’s artistic message; they also received the award for Best Audiovisual Presentation, innovatively integrating multimedia resources that enhanced the festival’s artistic experience.
A special mention goes to the “San Carlo Acutis” Social Media Award, awarded to the Salesians of Moca, in recognition of their creativity and dynamism in the digital promotion of the event and in spreading positive messages on social media.
Beyond the awards, the Festival della Canzone Messaggio has once again confirmed its importance as a space for integral formation and youth evangelisation. Each performance successfully conveyed the work of the preceding months of preparation and pastoral accompaniment, demonstrating how art can become a tool to educate, inspire and strengthen the faith of young people.
The songs presented addressed themes such as hope, listening to God, service, fraternity and Christian commitment in the face of society’s current challenges. All this was conveyed through language familiar to young people and in keeping with Don Bosco’s educational style, in which joy and youth leadership occupy a central place.
The 2026 edition was dedicated to the late Fr Ángel Soto, SDB (1942–2025), in recognition of his decades-long dedication and closeness to young people, especially in the fields of artistic and pastoral animation.
With this latest edition, the National Song-Message Festival has reaffirmed its mission to continue forming young people capable of transforming music into prayer, art into service, and faith into a concrete response to God and the needs of today’s world.
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