The Sanremo Festival, from which Italy’s Eurovision representatives are chosen, may leave its historic city in 2026 due to a dispute between the national broadcaster and the city administration.
Is the Sanremo Festival, Italy’s most iconic music competition and the foundation for selecting Italy’s representative to Eurovision, about to relocate to another city? The conflict between the national broadcaster RAI and the Sanremo city council has escalated to a boiling point — and it is possible that in 2026, the festival will no longer take place at the legendary Ariston Theatre.
About a month ago, we reported that the festival’s relocation could happen starting in 2027, but recent reports indicate this might occur even before the upcoming Eurovision. If no solution is found by August 1st, RAI will move the festival to alternative cities under consideration, including Milan, Turin, and Naples. This represents a significant upheaval in the Italian cultural scene — and a strategic change that may influence how Italy selects its Eurovision representatives in the future.
The Legal Dispute: Who Owns Sanremo?
The dispute arose following a legal demand: after an administrative court ruling in Liguria at the end of 2024, the Sanremo city council issued a new tender for managing the festival — demanding recognition as the brand’s owner. In contrast, RAI made it clear: “The Sanremo Festival, as it is known to the public, cannot take place without the national broadcaster.” The core of the disagreement lies in the ownership of the “Sanremo Festival” brand and its format. While RAI claims it has developed and produced the festival over the years, the Sanremo city council insists it is the legitimate owner — seeking 1% of the festival’s advertising revenue. RAI views this demand as unacceptable and undermining its authority.
According to the Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore, negotiations between the parties have been frozen for weeks, and a crucial RAI board meeting is scheduled for July 30th. If no compromise is reached by August 1st, the national broadcaster will announce the creation of a “RAI Song Festival,” hosted in another city.
Sanremo Festival: A Cultural Symbol and Eurovision Hub
Since its establishment in 1951, the Sanremo Festival has been Italy’s most important cultural event and the usual source for selecting Italy’s Eurovision representatives. Names like Måneskin, Mahmoud, and Marco Mengoni have all emerged from Sanremo to the international stage. Transferring the festival to a different city might not only alter the event’s character but also reshape how Italy perceives the connection between culture, nationality, and contemporary popularity.
Candidate Cities to Host the Next Sanremo
RAI has already begun exploring alternative locations. Among the candidates are Turin, which hosted Eurovision 2022, Milan, the cultural and economic center of northern Italy, along with holiday destinations such as Rimini and Viareggio. Naples, with its rich musical heritage, is also under consideration. Choosing a new host city will require enormous logistical adjustments, yet RAI remains confident: “We have the tools to produce the festival outside Sanremo if necessary.”
What’s Next?
The key question now is whether the parties will reach an agreement by August 1st. If so, the festival will remain in Sanremo, possibly undergoing legal changes. If not, for the first time in its history, we may see a revamped version of the festival in another city, under a different name.
For the Eurovision community, this drama could also affect Italy’s method of selecting its representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. As things stand, the story is far from over.
Italy at Eurovision 2025
“Volevo essere un duro” (translated as: “I Wanted to Be Tough”) is the song performed by singer Lucio Corsi, which came second at the 75th edition of the Sanremo Festival. The song was written by the singer himself along with Tommaso Ottomano. This was the singer’s first-ever appearance at the festival. The song is performed in Italian. The song finished fifth in the grand final with 256 points.
Italy returns to the Eurovision Grand Final Top 5 after last year achieving “only” seventh place.
Eurovision 2025: This was Italy’s 50th participation in Eurovision. Italy joined the contest in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won three times over the years. Italy’s most recent victory was at Eurovision 2021 with the song “Zitti e buoni” performed by the band Måneskin.
