The Italian judiciary has ruled that RAI can no longer organize the Sanremo Music Festival without a public tender. This marks a major shift for the Italian festival, as the Municipality of Sanremo is now required to follow an open and transparent selection process. The background: For many years, RAI (Italy’s public broadcaster) organized the Sanremo Festival through direct assignment — without any form of public competition.

This was widely accepted, given RAI’s technical expertise and long-standing association with the event. However, in recent years, various organizations and legal bodies began to question the legitimacy of this practice. The Regional Administrative Court of Liguria (TAR) ruled that the direct assignment for the 2024 and 2025 editions was unlawful.

The Municipality of Sanremo and RAI appealed the decision, but Italy’s Council of State rejected all appeals, confirming the need for transparency and equal access. What changes from now on; Starting in 2026, the Sanremo Festival must be assigned through a public tender process. The Municipality can no longer directly grant the rights to RAI or any other entity.

For the 2026–2028 period, a call for interest was already issued. RAI was the only broadcaster to submit a proposal before the deadline, on May 19. However, this does not mean automatic assignment.

A negotiation phase will now begin between the Municipality and RAI to define the terms of the partnership — including financial, organizational, and contractual matters. The Municipality may push for stronger returns, while RAI is also expected to request more realistic conditions to ensure the agreement is economically viable. One thing is certain: Sanremo is entering a new era, and the festival’s structure as we know it may be subject to significant change.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates! SOURCE: ansa.it