There are a great number of music competitions that offer prizes for performance and composition in both classical and popular music. Prizes may be monetary, but may also be in the form of less tangible things such as scholarships, recording contract, concert performances, a chance to have one's composition published or performed by an orchestra, etc. Some music festivals—even though there may be a "winner"—offer nothing more than exposure on television. That is important for musicians, but not technically a "prize" and those items are not included on this list. Nor are in-house conservatory prizes included—that is, competitions open only to students of the respective conservatory. This list includes competitions that are, generally speaking, open to "all-comers," although some of them impose age limits or residency (in Italy) requirements. The list, below, divided by area of interest; that is, classical, jazz, opera, instrumental, etc. Most of the competitions listed are annual affairs. Where possible, the competition name is linked to an external site, or an email address is provided where further details should be available.
Classical music.
piano.
Barletta. Puglia
International Piano Competition 'Mauro Paolo Monopoli Prize'
Catanzaro 
Taranto, Puglia
Grosseto, Tuscany
Rome
 Naples, conservatory.
Bolzano
Parma
Naples
Alessandria, Piedmont
Nuoro, Sardinia
Ciampino, Roma
Various disciplines: composition, performance on piano, accordion, chamber music. 
Piacenza
Barletta, 
miscellaneous instrumental/voice.
Website 'Città di Barletta' Young Musician Intl. Competition
Sections: piano, strings, guitar, chamber music ensemble, wind instruments.
Bari
performance awards for voice, piano
Vercelli
 Cagli (PU)
 Prizes for performance of contemporary music by Fernando Mencherini
Casale Monferrato
Chieri, Piedmont
Trieste
Florence
Reggio Emilia
A. Scontrino music conservatory
Trapani
Barletta
Composition.
Website Città di Barletta Competition 
Brescia 
Music conservatory, Torino
Rome, International Composition Competition
Parma
Stradella (PV)
Busseto, Parma 
Lecce
Budrio (Bologna)
Spoleto
Parma
Arezzo
Barga, (LU)
Wind Instruments
Chieri, Piedmont 
Rome
Parma
Trento