There will be no “rumore” from Diodato in Sanremo 2021. The Italian Eurovision 2020 star has said that he has no plans to return to next year’s iconic Italian song festival. The news also means it is unlikely he will return as Italy’s act for Eurovision 2021.

Diodato says he won’t come back to Sanremo 2021

After being the runaway winner in this year’s Sanremo with “Fai rumore”, Diodato says he has decided not to come back. He broke the news in an interview earlier on Wednesday on Italian radio station RTL 102.5.

This means Diodato won’t be Italy’s Eurovision 2021 act, as Rai will once again give the winner of Sanremo first refusal to represent Italy at Eurovision. If the winner declines, Rai will internally select an act from the other Sanremo competitors.

Diodato explained that Sanremo isn’t a priority. “The Sanremo Festival is not an immediate project. Going to the competition again is not my plan. My name has been mention in several articles, but these rumours always circulate.”

But is he telling the truth or is this an elaborate ruse? Sanremo acts are not permitted to reveal that they are competing before the list of competing acts is officially revealed. So Diodato could be bending the truth in order to not fall foul of the Sanremo rules.

Diodato: What’s next for him?

Even if Sanremo isn’t in his 2021 schedule, Diodato is still keeping busy with songwriting. He told the radio host, “I’m writing now, but I don’t have big projects, I’ll just let it flow.”

Despite not having the chance to perform at Eurovision, 2020 has still been a successful year for Diodato. In November, he won the Best Italian Act award at MTV EMAs.

He had to accept his award from home, with a short video, thanking his fans for their support. He also wished for an end to the troubles of the pandemic, saying “I hope we’ll get through these difficult times and we go back to normal — made of social life, lots of concerts, and hugs on and off the stage”.

There may not have been hugs, but he did give some notable performances during the year. In fact, he had a tour around several Italian cities, and most notably had the chance to perform “Fai rumore” alone in the Arena di Verona.

As for the future, Diodato has explained he’s been working in multiple projects, but he’s not focusing on deadlines. The hosts also asked which was his wish for 2021, to which he replied: “We would all like that 2021 was a year that humanly allows us to return to a little bit of normality”.

What do you think about Diodato’s decision not to come back? Who would you like to see represent Italy in 2021? What do you expect from next year’s Sanremo? Tell us in the comment section below!

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13 Comments
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KarmaLeon
KarmaLeon
3 years ago

Italy will win soon … i hope in 2021 with Giusy Fereri 😉 fingers crossed …

Colin
Colin
3 years ago

His song is one of only three from ESC 2020 to get a full 10/10 from me. If there was ever a situation for Italy to go with an internal choice, parallel with Sanremo, this was it. However, I understand the choice of continuing with Sanremo as a method of selection. A song needs to go through many, many tough filters to win it, so no wonder most of their winners are so great. And if Diodato doesn’t think he has a song equally good as Fai rumore, then maybe it’s best for him to skip and year or two… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Colin
Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago

Diodato is the one I’ll miss the most, but I completely understand and support his decision. Winning Sanremo is already a big deal. Plus “Fai Rumore” got such a strong meaning with everything Italy was going through, that he experienced things possibly no other Eurovision artist had or will experience. I hope he participates someday, but even if it doesn’t happen, he left his mark in the contest’s History anyway.

Last edited 3 years ago by Sabrina
Kim
Kim
3 years ago

Sad news. However I wonder if winning the MTV award had an impact? What’s more favourable for an artist, winning ESC or an award at MTV?

James
James
3 years ago
Reply to  Kim

For Italian artists, I assume it’s winning Sanremo is a career highlight they wanna have the most.

maladroite
maladroite
3 years ago
Reply to  Kim

yeah Sanremo is a much bigger deal in Italy than eurovision is, I don’t think the MTV means much

HarpyDarper
HarpyDarper
3 years ago

Sad to hear this news, but glad he (and his song) featured prominently on the replacement show this year

Matt Church
Matt Church
3 years ago

Glad he is not trying to force an entry for Sanremo 2021, and just let the process happen organically. I don’t think we seen the last of him in regards to Sanremo.

Candy
Candy
3 years ago

Maybe it’s for the best, but it’s still so sad that he won’t be among the returning artists next year. Somehow, I still hope that the winner of Sanremo will refuse and that Diodato will be selected instead, but that’s just wishful thinking. If 2021 isn’t going to happen, perhaps he can return in a few years when things are back to normal so that he gets to experience a “real” ESC with no restrictions and no social distance.

esc2021rotterdam
esc2021rotterdam
3 years ago
Reply to  Candy

If the Sanremo winner doesn’t want to go to eurovision so other Sanremo participant will go (like in 2016) and the ebu said that esc2021 is going to happen no matter what.

dxi
dxi
3 years ago

He was my winner, but I agree that it would probably be hard to top Fair Rumore. Hope he returns in the future, though.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
3 years ago

Would be hard to come back immediately with a song that lives up to “Fai Rumore” and what that song meant.

Alex
Alex
3 years ago

I’m now sad.