Italy: A Revolution at Sanremo – Landmark Ruling Changes the Rules of the Game

Italy: A Revolution at Sanremo – Landmark Ruling Changes the Rules of the Game

by Guy Solo Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); A court ruling in Italy obligates the city of Sanremo to launch a public tender for the production of the iconic festival in the coming years. What this means for RAI and Eurovision? A seismic shift has occurred at the Sanremo Music Festival: Italy's top administrative court has annulled the direct assignment of production rights to RAI, the national broadcaster, for the years 2026–2028. The court has ordered the city of Sanremo to initiate a public bidding process. The decision, handed down on May 29, 2025, reshapes one of Italy’s most revered cultural institutions and sets a powerful legal precedent for national events and broadcasting rights — with potential consequences for Italy’s future participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Legal Battle That Changed Everything The definitive ruling by the Consiglio di Stato (Council of State) rejected all appeals from RAI, its advertising subsidiary, and the City of Sanremo, upholding a prior decision by the...
Read More
Italy: Sanremo 2026 Festival Postponed – Here’s Why the Schedule Has Been Changed

Italy: Sanremo 2026 Festival Postponed – Here’s Why the Schedule Has Been Changed

by Guy Solo Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Sanremo 2026 was postponed to late February due to the Winter Olympics. Why is Italy sidelining its most iconic festival? Sanremo 2026, which also serves as Italy’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, will be held unusually late this year – from February 24 to 28 – instead of early February as is customary. The change comes as a result of the Winter Olympics in Milan, prioritized by the Italian national broadcaster, RAI. This significant shift in the country's broadcasting schedule is expected to impact the ever-tightening relationship between the festival and the Eurovision Song Contest. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Sacrificing the Festival for Olympic Ratings The decision by the Italian national broadcaster to postpone the prestigious festival – one of the cornerstones of Italian pop culture and among the oldest music festivals in the world – stems from the high commercial potential of the Winter Olympics. According to sources in Rome, February is expected to be a...
Read More
Italy: Sanremo Festival 2026 – The Legal Battle and Its Implications for Eurovision

Italy: Sanremo Festival 2026 – The Legal Battle and Its Implications for Eurovision

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision 2026 begins in court: All the drama behind the Sanremo Festival tender, the hints shared by the host, and why only RAI submitted a bid. The Sanremo Festival, one of Europe's most significant musical events and undoubtedly Italy's most central, is currently at the epicenter of an unprecedented cultural, political, and legal storm. Such turmoil has not been seen since the competition's inception in 1951, predating even Eurovision. The core issue is not just who will stand on stage, but primarily who will operate this grand platform, who will own this cultural-national format, and how Italy's journey to Eurovision will look in the coming years. At the center of the storm lies the question of ownership and production rights. Is the Italian national broadcaster, RAI, entitled to produce the festival without a public tender? And will the upcoming legal decision undermine the broadcaster's historic role as the steward of an event that has become a cornerstone of...
Read More
Italy’s Eurovision 2025 Voting Revealed: Which Country Won the Most Italian Votes?

Italy’s Eurovision 2025 Voting Revealed: Which Country Won the Most Italian Votes?

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Italy at Eurovision 2025: A detailed look at Italian public voting in Eurovision 2025, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse at audience preferences and how they differed from the overall contest results. The Italian national broadcaster, RAI, has published the full breakdown of the Italian public’s vote in Eurovision 2025, including precise data from both the first semi-final - where Italy participated as a voting country - and the grand final. This move towards transparency reveals which countries managed to captivate Italian viewers and highlights the significant differences between local preferences and the overall contest results. The country that received the most love from Italians, both in the semi-final and the final, was San Marino, represented by Gabry Ponte with the song "Tutta l’Italia". The fast-paced, catchy song, blending contemporary pop with a nod to Italian culture, garnered 54.65% of Italian votes in the semi-final - more than half of all votes - and no less than 34.16% in the...
Read More
Italy’s Second Rehearsal: Lucio Corsi Takes the Eurovision 2025 Stage

Italy’s Second Rehearsal: Lucio Corsi Takes the Eurovision 2025 Stage

by Guy Solo Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Italy in Eurovision 2025: Singer Lucio Corsi took the stage for his second rehearsal with the song “Volevo Essere Un Duro”. Stay updated with all the reports from Basel, Switzerland… The Italian singer Lucio Corsi was the fourteenth act to rehearse today on the Eurovision 2025 stage with her song "Volevo Essere Un Duro". He will perform in the first semi-final on May 13th between song number 9 (Belgium) and song number 10 (Azerbaijan), and in the grand final to be held on May 17th. In the video released from rehearsal, Lucio sings on stage wearing pointed, decorated yellow shoulder straps, a black mesh shirt, white makeup, and holding a guitar. Behind him, there are several vintage-style radios. There is also a piano, which he plays during another part of the song, and at a certain point, a guitarist in a gray suit with a quirky hairstyle joins him and sings with him into the microphone. The lighting is...
Read More
Italy’s First Rehearsal: Lucio Corsi Takes the Eurovision 2025 Stage

Italy’s First Rehearsal: Lucio Corsi Takes the Eurovision 2025 Stage

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Italy in Eurovision 2025: Singer Lucio Corsi took the stage for his first rehearsal with the song “Volevo Essere Un Duro”. Stay updated with all the reports from Basel, Switzerland… The Italian singer Lucio Corsi was the fourteenth act to rehearse today on the Eurovision 2025 stage with her song "Volevo Essere Un Duro". He will perform in the first semi-final on May 13th between song number 9 (Belgium) and song number 10 (Azerbaijan), and in the grand final to be held on May 17th. Italy’s first rehearsal for Eurovision 2025 features Lucio Corsi performing his glam rock ballad “Volevo Essere Un Duro.” Lucio, a 31-year-old singer-songwriter from Tuscany now living in Milan, has a unique style that pays tribute to 1970s glam rock and David Bowie’s piano ballads. The song’s title means “I Wanted to Be Tough”, and if you don’t speak Italian, it’s worth checking out the translated lyrics on Lucio’s Eurovision profile - this is a...
Read More
Damiano David: “No Reason to Deny Israeli Artists From Eurovision”

Damiano David: “No Reason to Deny Israeli Artists From Eurovision”

by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision 2025: Amid preparations for the event, Damiano David, who won Eurovision 2021 with the band Måneskin, speaks openly to the media, stating that he sees no issue with Israel's participation in Eurovision! As the preparations for Eurovision 2025 in Basel unfold, Damiano David, a prominent candidate to perform as a guest at the event, shares his views in an interview with Spanish media. David, who gained international fame after winning Eurovision 2021 with Måneskin, openly discusses his political opinions, including his stance on Israel's participation in Eurovision. Watch Maneskin's winning Eurovision 2021 performance: (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); When asked about Israel's involvement in Eurovision, David responded: "It’s a very complex situation, it depends on the person itself. If the artist is very involved (in the political situation), it’s one context. But if it’s an artist who simply happens to be born in Israel and wants to sing at Eurovision, I don’t see why they should...
Read More
“It Won’t Happen”: Italy’s Commentator for Eurovision 2025 Doubts the Country’s Chances

“It Won’t Happen”: Italy’s Commentator for Eurovision 2025 Doubts the Country’s Chances

by Guy Solo Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Italy at Eurovision 2025: Italy’s Commentator for Eurovision doubts Italy’s chances – but what makes him say “It won’t happen”? And what did the Italians really think of Malmö? A few weeks before Eurovision 2025 is set to take place in Basel, Switzerland, one statement has turned heads and stirred controversy in Italy’s Eurovision fan community. Gabriele Corsi, the main commentator for the Eurovision broadcasts on Italy’s national broadcaster, RAI, publicly declared that he doesn’t believe Italy has a real chance of winning this year. During a panel held as part of the influencer and creator festival in the city of Terni, moderated by veteran journalist Caterina Proietti — who has covered both Sanremo and Eurovision extensively — Corsi expressed his views without hesitation. Summing up his feelings about Italy’s chances, he stated: “Of course I support Italy and Lucio Corsi, but I think France with Louane and the song 'Maman' is a very dangerous opponent. As for us...
Read More
EBU Marks 75 Years of Activity with Alessandro Mahmood and Gustaph!

EBU Marks 75 Years of Activity with Alessandro Mahmood and Gustaph!

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Two guest performances by Eurovision stars were held on stage at the event celebrating 75 years of activity for the EBU! All the details are in the article. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) celebrated 75 years of activity this March with a glittering event in Brussels, Belgium's capital. The organization is responsible for organizing and managing the Eurovision Song Contest. The event, held on March 19th, featured two guest performances by past Eurovision participants: Italy's representative at Eurovision 2019 and 2022, Alessandro Mahmood, and Belgium's representative at Eurovision 2023, Gustaph. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Alessandro Mahmood represented Italy on two occasions. The first was in Eurovision 2019 in Tel Aviv, Israel, where he performed the song "Soldi" and achieved second place. The second was at Eurovision 2022 in Turin, Italy, where he performed alongside Blanco the song "Brividi", reaching sixth place. The second former contestant was Gustaph, who represented Belgium at Eurovision 2023 held in Liverpool, United Kingdom. He...
Read More
Italy: Lucio Corsi Announces He Will Deliberately Break Eurovision Rules!

Italy: Lucio Corsi Announces He Will Deliberately Break Eurovision Rules!

by Guy Solo Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Italy at Eurovision 2025: The Italian representative will play live on stage despite the ban. How did he find a way to bypass the rules? The performance of Italy’s representative, Lucio Corsi with the song "Volevo essere un duro" (translated: "I Wanted to Be Tough") at Eurovision 2025 is set to be nothing short of revolutionary – and not just musically. During his performance at this year’s competition in Basel, Switzerland, Corsi announced that he would play live on the harmonica – an action that, according to the official Eurovision rules, constitutes a violation of the guidelines. However, the singer found a creative way to bypass the ban – and change the game. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Surprise Revelation The revelation about the surprise was first shared on an Italian talk show. During a conversation with the host, Lucio Corsi pulled a harmonica from his pocket and played a few melodies for the audience. These were excerpts he...
Read More