The Italian broadcaster RAI recently confirmed that Amadeus will return next year as host and artistic director of Festival di Sanremo for the third time in a row, and that the 72nd edition of the festival will be held from 1 to 5 February 2022.
“It is a great joy and for this I thank the CEO Fuortes and the director of Rai 1 Coletta who wanted me at the helm of the 72nd edition of the festival”, affirms Amadeus. “I can’t wait to start working, listening to the songs, sharing them with you. And then there will be entertainment, fun, emotions and many surprises”.
The director of Rai 1, Stefano Coletta, stated that “the musical journey undertaken by Amadeus two years ago marked an important cultural change in the history of the Festival which led the Måneskin winners of the last edition, to also win the Eurovision Song Contest, an important international recognition for the Italian song. It is in this direction of innovation, one of the objectives of the Public Service, that Rai intends to continue to make the most of musical talent through the most popular television event in the country”.
Regarding the Eurovision Song Contest, the Italian broadcaster has not yet confirmed that Festival di Sanremo 2022 will be the format used to choose the Italian representative as in previous years.
🔴 #Sanremo2022 sarà condotto da Amadeus.
— Cinguetterai (@Cinguetterai) August 5, 2021
Ad annunciare l’ufficialità è il TG1. pic.twitter.com/7Onxmpcndq
Italy in Eurovision
Italy has participated 46 times in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1956, and it’s currently one of the countries with the best results in the contest, having conquered 12 podiums. The Italians took the trophy home 3 times with “Non ho l’età (per amarti)” by Gigliola Cinquetti (1964), “Insieme: 1992” by Toto Cutugno (1990) and “Zitti e Buoni” by Måneskin (2021).
How do you feel about Amadeus returning as a host and artistic director to Sanremo? What do you expect from next year’s festival? Let us know in the comments below!