After months of economic and legal disputes, RAI and the Sanremo municipality have reached an agreement: the Sanremo Festival will stay in Sanremo. Who will fund the coveted festival, which selects Italy’s Eurovision song?
For months, reports have circulated that the prestigious and long-standing Sanremo Festival, from which Italy’s Eurovision representatives are chosen, might be leaving its legendary city for the first time in 75 years due to a heated conflict between the Italian national broadcaster, RAI, and the municipality of Sanremo. Now, it seems the drama is nearing its end, but with a controversial turn: this time, the Sanremo municipality will foot the bill – the same municipality that demanded the “Sanremo” trademark from RAI, alongside 1% of its advertising revenues.
From Dreams of Fame to Harsh Financial Reality
RAI clarified that it was tired of serving as a cash machine and declared: “Either change direction, or we will find another city”. The message was delivered loudly and uncompromisingly – the festival would find a new home starting in 2027.
The Italian national broadcaster considered several alternatives, such as Turin, which hosted Eurovision 2022, as well as other cities interested in hosting the competition, including Rimini, Naples, and even Rome, which had already prepared the Auditorium Parco della Musica for hosting.
An Italian-Style Compromise
The Sanremo municipality decided to take a step back. According to rumors, it will cover all hosting expenses, including hotels, food, transportation, and anything else artists and production staff need to feel at home. Until now, these costs were covered by RAI, which now demands joint management of expenses.
The meeting in Rome between Sanremo Mayor Alessandro Mager, Italian Tourism Council Member Alessandro Sindoni, and RAI CEO Giampaolo Rossi was described as positive. At the conclusion of the meeting, it was stated:
“We have not signed anything yet, but we understand each other”.
Sanremo Saves the Festival… But at a High Price
RAI is no longer willing to act as the festival’s patron, and record companies are pushing for proper hospitality services for the sake of the artists. What does this mean in practice? Sanremo remains the capital of Italian music, but will have to keep opening its wallet. After months of threats of relocation, rumors, and ultimatums, the Ariston Theatre will once again host the competition – but this time, behind the scenes, the price will be high, and Sanremo municipality will pay it.
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.
