Amid the ongoing legal battle between the Municipality of Sanremo and RAI, the Italian national broadcaster is already planning ahead: Which city could be the next to host the Sanremo Festival?
The prestigious and long-standing Sanremo Festival, from which Italy’s Eurovision representatives are selected, may depart from its legendary city for the first time in 75 years due to a fierce dispute between RAI, the Italian national broadcaster, and the Municipality of Sanremo. According to recent reports, the parties are embroiled in a public legal and financial battle that remains unresolved, and several potential host cities have already been identified, including Turin, which hosted Eurovision 2022 and is considered the favorite by the national broadcaster.
The Cultural Impact and the Future of “The Italian Eurovision”
The future of the Sanremo Festival – the iconic competition that not only chooses Italy’s Eurovision acts but also sets the national musical agenda – has become a boiling point across Italy. Since the conflict over control of the event and its brand became public, tensions have risen: What will happen to the festival’s image if it leaves Sanremo? In the latest round of discussions, local music industry leaders have argued that moving the festival could actually enhance the participant experience, promote cultural diversity, and attract a younger generation to the competition.
Opponents see the prospect of moving back to Turin as “an irreplaceable blow to Italian tradition”. As someone who has closely followed the contest several times, the sensitivity of this battle has become increasingly apparent – even within the EuroMix communities, where debates are more heated than ever.
Background: The Law, Tradition, and the Preferred City
The uproar stems from a 2024 court ruling that compelled the Municipality of Sanremo to open a new bid for festival management after decades in which RAI was the sole organizer. In response to the ruling, the Italian national broadcaster clarified:
“The ‘Sanremo Festival’ brand is part of our identity”.
Conversely, the Municipality of Sanremo sought official recognition as the owner of the festival and submitted a request for expanded economic rights, particularly over advertising and sponsorship revenues.
RAI has already begun seriously considering alternative possibilities: Turin, host of Eurovision 2022, is the favored candidate, but cities such as Rimini, Naples, and Viareggio are also in consideration – partly due to a global trend turning major music shows into traveling events that reach new audiences. This move could create significant logistical challenges, especially given tight schedules.
Legal Disputes, Competition Rules, and Public Consensus
One of the most intriguing and perhaps complex legal issues concerns the question: “Who owns Sanremo?” If the brand belongs to the city and not RAI, the festival would have to change its name if relocated – and it is uncertain whether it would maintain its standing as a European media focus. In any case, even if the festival moves, the Italian national broadcaster will continue to select Italy’s Eurovision representative, thus maintaining its Eurovision connection according to the current rules.
While social media voices call for a public decision and changes to the festival’s voting system, artistic director Carlo Conti has clarified that the triple voting method – 34% public vote, 33% journalist vote, and 33% radio broadcaster vote – will remain in place in 2026, despite the criticism.
Italy at Eurovision 2025
“Volevo essere un duro” (in English: “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.
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Ilay Gaist is a leading Israeli content creator and writer specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He is a well-known commentator with extensive expertise in the contest’s history, rules, and dynamics. His passion for Eurovision drives him to deliver rich, professional, and innovative content to his audience.
Ilay holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic and has a multilingual background. He also engages in cultural research, with a particular focus on global culinary traditions and the evolution of local cuisines around the world.
