Sanremo 2026: Rai Investigates Possible Crypto-Advertising Rule Violation During Festival

The Sanremo Italian Song Festival, an undisputed celebration of national culture, has entered its decisive phase, simultaneously generating massive reach and serious questions about the ethics of its content. Artistic director Carlo Conti has officially expressed great satisfaction with the current telemetric results. According to available data, this year's edition is recording historic market shares, particularly in the 15–24 age group, which fulfills the main goal of this year's editorial strategy. However, the festive atmosphere was disrupted by Rai's initiation of a verification procedure regarding the performance of Malika Ayane. This concerns the song "Animali notturni", whose title is identical to the name of a cosmetics set promoted by the artist at the same time. The public broadcaster must determine whether prohibited crypto-advertising occurred on air, which in the past has already resulted in severe financial penalties for the station. On the stage of the Ariston Theatre, emotions are stirred not only by musical aspects but also by guest appearances by personalities from the media and science. Journalist Giorgia Cardinaletti joined the hosting team, which was perceived as strengthening the event's prestige. Controversy, however, was sparked by the appearance of science popularizer Vincenzo Schettini. Although his monologue addressed the issue of youth addiction, critics noted that he completely omitted the ongoing media debate surrounding his own teaching methods. Meanwhile, Alessandro Siani, performing as the mysterious "Mister X", received a cool reception from reviewers. His satire, aimed among others at celebrities such as Lapo Elkann and Can Yaman, was deemed derivative and lacking the expected punchline. The origins of the Sanremo Festival date back to 1951, when the event aimed to revitalize the Italian economy and culture after World War II, eventually becoming a global model for the Eurovision Song Contest.An interesting financial thread concerns the participation of Fedez, who, according to business analyses, dominates the other participants in terms of income generated by his own companies and advertising contracts before the competition began. The press is also closely watching the image aspects of the event. Carla Gozzi, an expert on fashion and etiquette, positively assessed the editorial efforts to restore the gala's classic elegance, which contrasts with last year's more scandalous stylings. Nevertheless, the liberal press, including "La Repubblica", consistently criticizes the organizers for anachronism in the way women are presented on stage, arguing that the festival still treats female co-hosts as "decorations", ignoring the social evolution of recent decades. The fourth evening, traditionally dedicated to covers, confirmed, however, that Sanremo remains the most important platform for generational exchange in Italian culture. „Sono molto contento dello share così alto tra i giovani.” (I am very pleased with the high share among young people.) — Carlo Conti

Perspektywy mediów: Liberal media, such as La Repubblica, focus on criticizing patriarchy and the anachronistic role of women at the festival, accusing Rai of promoting outdated models. Conservative and trade press emphasize commercial success, record share, and the return to traditional elegance and high artistic level.