The Sanremo Municipal Council has approved the new RAI–City of Sanremo convention, officially securing the Festival della Canzone Italiana for the next three editions – with the option to extend the deal for two more years.
Agreement finalised after months of talks
According to ANSA, the approval marks the end of a months-long negotiation process that followed the public tender launched last December, after TAR Liguria required an open call for interest. As reported back in July, discussions between RAI and the council intensified during the summer as both sides worked to renew their historic partnership.
Under the new convention, RAI (the only applicant) met all the city’s conditions, including:
- A €6.5 million fee to the municipality.
- A 1% share of RAI’s advertising revenues.
- Guaranteed participation of two Area Sanremo winners in the Festival.
- Broadcast of Sanremoinfiore and two other events, one to be held in summer.
- Coverage of the traditional plaque ceremony on Via Matteotti in honour of the Festival’s winner.
Strengthening a long-standing collaboration
Both parties also agreed to introduce measures that promote local culture, sustainability, and the value of the territory. The municipality will remain the sole owner of the Festival’s trademarks, while RAI will continue to oversee the artistic direction for the editions covered by the agreement.
Mayor Alessandro Mager and Tourism Councillor Alessandro Sindoni expressed their satisfaction with the outcome, saying it “reflects the shared desire to continue a partnership that has made history.”
They also announced the establishment of a permanent observatory to monitor the agreement’s progress and encourage new initiatives for the Festival’s future growth.
The agreement officially ends months of uncertainty over Sanremo’s role as host city, confirming that the Festival della Canzone Italiana will remain in its historic home as preparations for Sanremo 2026 move forward.
Italy’s Eurovision journey
Italy has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since the very beginning and have always been considered a powerhouse in the contest. The country has won the contest on three occasions in 1964, 1990 and 2021. Italy withdrew after 1997, returning again in 2011 with Raphael Gualazzi who sang ‘Madness Of Love’. Raphael placed second in the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest after scoring 189 points.
Italy’s most recent entry in 2025 was “Volevo essere un duro” by Lucio Corsi. At the close of voting, Italy scored a total of 256 points in the Eurovision 2025 Grand Final, placing 5th. Of these, 159 points came from the juries, whilst the remaining 97 points came from the televote.
Are you happy to see Sanremo confirmed as the Festival’s home for the coming years? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. And don’t forget to follow That Eurovision Site on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, Tumblr, and Bluesky for all the latest updates on Sanremo and Eurovision 2026!
News Source: ANSA
Photo Credit: RAI
Euan T 
Rory Gannon