RAI, the Italian national broadcaster, has confirmed that Italy will participate at the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest in The Netherlands next year.

Buonasera Europe, this is Rome calling! Brace yourself Europe as the Italians are coming to The Netherlands for Eurovision!

Thus Italy joins the list of countries who have confirmed their intention to participate at the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest in Netherlands.

RAI is yet to confirm the mechanism it will use to select its Eurovision act and entry for Eurovision 2020, it is more than likely that Italy will stick to its traditional Sanremo Song Festival in order to determine its Eurovision hopeful as has been the case in recent years. The Italian broadcaster will be revealing further details regarding its 2020 Eurovision project in due course.

The 2020 Sanremo Song Festival will be running from 04-08 February with the Grand Finale scheduled to be held on 8 February. The coveted song festival will be held once again at the Teatro Ariston in Sanremo.

Italy in Eurovision

Italy is one of the founder members of the Eurovision Song Contest having debuted in the very first contest in 1956. The country has won the event twice with Gigliola Cinquetti (1964)and Toto Cutugno (1990).

The country has been represented at the Eurovision Song Contest by its most celebrated and internationally acclaimed artists throughout its Eurovision history: Ana Oxa, Domenico Modugno, Albano, Romina Power, Franco Batiatto, Umberto Tozzi, Matia Bazar, Marco Mengoni, Emma Marrone, Il Volo, Francesco Gabbani, Raphael Gualazzi, Massimo Ranieri, Ricardo Fogli, etc.

Italy withdrew from the competition in 1998 and returned to Eurovision in 2011 after a 13 year hiatus. Since their return to the contest the Italians have enjoyed great success in the event placing 7 times in the top 10 of the scoreboard.

The southern European country has partaken 45 times in Europe’s favourite television show.

Mahmood was crowned the winner of Sanremo 2019 and won the right to represent Italy at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest with his entry Soldi. The multi talented Italian star achieved an honorable 2nd place in the Grand Final in Tel Aviv.