Italian Song Festival may Leave Sanremo Amid Rising Costs

Viareggio, Italy, July 2, 2025 – After decades in Sanremo, the renowned Italian Song Festival could be seeking a new home. Negotiations between RAI, the Italian state broadcaster, and the Municipality of Sanremo have reportedly reached an impasse, possibly leading to the festival’s departure in 2027. The core issue revolves around escalating economic demands from sanremo, including a request for an additional one million euros and a share of advertising revenues, coupled with concerns about the adequacy of existing infrastructure.

Potential New Locations for the Italian Song festival

Faced with these challenges, RAI has explored alternative locations, gauging interest from various regions across Italy. Tuscany, specifically Viareggio and other Versilia locations, has emerged as a potential candidate.Other regions expressing interest include Romagna, with Rimini and Senigallia, Puglia with Gargano, and Campania with the Amalfi Coast. The festival’s location could rotate every two years, starting in 2027.

Did You Know? The Italian Song Festival was actually held in Viareggio for its first two editions in 1948 and 1949.

Viareggio’s Outlook: A return to its Roots?

Mario Bernardini,whose father Sergio co-created the festival,expressed reservations about Viareggio’s readiness to host the event again. He cited organizational and logistical challenges, including the lack of a large theater and inadequate infrastructure. Bernardini also noted the potential conflict with Viareggio’s Carnival celebrations in February. He believes Romagna is better equipped to handle the complexities of the festival. However, he suspects RAI’s exploration of other locations is a strategic move to pressure Sanremo into moderating its demands.

Pro Tip: Securing adequate infrastructure and funding are crucial for hosting large-scale events like the Italian Song Festival.

The Significance of Sanremo

Adriano Aragozzini, who served as the festival’s patron from 1983 to 1993, believes that moving the festival from Sanremo would be detrimental to its legacy. He argues that the “Sanremo” brand is inextricably linked to the event’s identity. While acknowledging Viareggio’s capability to host a triumphant festival, Aragozzini emphasizes that it would essentially be a diffrent event altogether.Sanremo is known as the “City of Flowers” and is a popular tourist destination on the Italian Riviera [[1]]. It is indeed known for its mild climate, festivals and cultural heritage [[1]]. The city also boasts beaches and architecture that attracted empress Sissi [[3]].

Impact on Sanremo

The potential departure of the Italian Song festival would have critically important economic repercussions for Sanremo. The festival generates substantial revenue for the city through tourism, hospitality, and related industries. Losing the event could negatively impact local businesses and employment opportunities. The Italian Song Festival is a major event for the city and the surrounding region.

Will the Italian Song Festival remain in Sanremo, or will a new city become its home? What impact would a change of location have on the festival’s identity and popularity?

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