Sanremo 2026: Record €72 Million Profit Despite Final's Viewership Drop

This year's edition of the Italian Song Festival in Sanremo has gone down in history as a financial triumph for the public broadcaster RAI. Although the final evening attracted 11 million viewers, a drop of 2 million compared to last year, advertising revenues reached a staggering €72 million. Carlo Conti, serving as artistic director, officially concluded his mission, naming Stefano De Martino as his successor. This decision sparks lively debate among music critics, who question De Martino's competence in repertoire selection, highlighting his previous image as a dancer and entertainment presenter. Since 1951, the Sanremo Festival has been a cornerstone of Italian cultural identity, serving not only as a song contest but also as a platform for social debates that has launched stars like Andrea Bocelli and the group Måneskin.Sunday's edition of 'Domenica In', traditionally broadcast from the Ariston Theatre the day after the final, became the stage for an unusual artists' rebellion against imposed playback. Singer Fulminacci performed with a banana instead of a microphone, and the duo Sayf and Gassmann performed without amplification, exposing the artificiality of the format. Great commotion was also caused by singer Levante, who for the second time publicly kissed a woman – this time host Mara Venier – putting an end to speculation about alleged censorship during the festival. Simultaneously, in the digital world, the results of FantaSanremo were announced, where LDA and Aka7even won decisively. 72 mln euro — amounted to record advertising revenues in 2026Backstage at the festival, family and personal threads were not lacking. Leo Gassmann publicly denied rumors of a conflict between his father, Alessandro, and the legendary Gianni Morandi, explaining social media posts as specific irony. Meanwhile, Tredici Pietro, Morandi's son, confessed that performing with his father was an experience comparable to a tattoo he would never remove. Although the festival machinery has slowed down, Italy is already living with preparations for the next edition under new leadership, hoping that De Martino will manage to maintain the high share level achieved by his predecessor.„Al Festival non c'è stata censura, nessuno lo sapeva. Con Gaia? Era amichevole.” (There was no censorship at the Festival, nobody knew about it. With Gaia? It was friendly.) — Levante The Ariston Theatre, home to the festival since 1977, has passed into legend thanks to its steep stairs, which have become a symbol of elegance but also great stress for the stars performing there.