Måneskin "Zitti E Buoni" Italy Eurovision 2021
Photo: EBU / Thomas Hanses

The deadline for Italian cities to submit their bids to host Eurovision 2022 passed on Monday. And in recent days we’ve seen places like Turin, Pesaro, Bologna, Jesolo and Remini all confirm that they have sent in proposals to RAI. Now, the host broadcaster has revealed that a total of 17 cities are in contention to host next year’s song contest.

17 Italian cities bidding to host Eurovision 2022

In a short press release, RAI lists the 17 cities that have responded to its call for expressions of interest. They are:

  • Acireale (Catania)
  • Alessandria
  • Bertinoro di Romagna (Forlì – Cesena)
  • Bologna
  • Genoa
  • Florence
  • Jesolo (Venice)
  • Matera
  • Milan
  • Palazzolo Acreide (Syracuse),
  • Pesaro
  • Rimini
  • Rome
  • Sanremo (Imperia)
  • Turin
  • Trieste
  • Viterbo

The next stage will see all the candidates receive a more detailed document with the necessary requirements for hosting Eurovision. These bid books will be delivered to the candidate cities on Wednesday 14 July and must be submitted to RAI by Wednesday 4 August. The final decision will be made by RAI in conjunction with the EBU by the end of August.

Eurovision 2022 host city bidding process

Italian broadcaster RAI has issued some very important parameters for the candidate cities. In order to host Eurovision 2022, a city must have an international airport no more than 90 minutes from the city. It should also have over 2,000 hotel rooms in the area close to the event and an infrastructure capable of hosting a large-scale live broadcast.

The venue must fulfil several requirements as well, such as being indoors and having air-conditioning and a well-defined perimeter. The arena should have an audience capacity in the main hall of at least 8,000 – 10,000 during the event and a main hall that can house the set and all other requirements needed to produce a high-level broadcast production.

It’s also worth mentioning that those 8,000 – 10,000 people should correspond to 70% of the maximum capacity of that venue for regular concerts, as the specific stage and production needs of Eurovision should be taken into consideration. The venue should also have ample space within easy access of the main hall to support additional production needs, such as: a press centre capable of hosting over 1,000 journalists; delegation spaces, dressing rooms, artist facilities, staff facilities, hospitality, audience facilities.

Most importantly, the infrastructure must be available exclusively for six weeks before the event, two weeks during the show in May and a week after the end of the event for dismantling. That’s nine weeks.

Which city are you most excited to see on the list? Where do you want to go next May? Let us know in the comments.

Follow all of our Italy Eurovision 2022 news.

59 Comments
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Christopher Bowen
Christopher Bowen
3 years ago

JUST BE SOMEWHERE I CAN GE THE CHEAPEST FLIGHTS!!!

Tom Lu
Tom Lu
3 years ago

“8,000 – 10,000 people should correspond to 70% of the maximum capacity of that venue for regular concerts”

If I’m not mistaken, this means the maximum regular concert capacity of the venue they want should be between 11400 and 14200. Which candidate venues fit and do not fit this requirement?

B$123
B$123
3 years ago

17 beautiful cities stand before me… but I only have one photo in my hands.. and this photo represents the city that will host the contest next year…. the 16 cities that I do not call must immediately return to the house, pack their belongings… and GO HOME…

WANNA BE ON TOP?!!!

Andi
Andi
3 years ago

Wherever it is: I will be there <3

Andrea
Andrea
3 years ago

It is gonna be Turin (Pala Alpitour Arena). cheapest and safest option for EBU/RAI.

Stefano
Stefano
3 years ago

As Italian from Rome, I really hope Turin will be the hosting city!! I love Rome, but in may is yet full of tourists; Milan is overrated.. yes, is modern, but in Italy we have so many greater and cool cities that deserve more. Turin would be perfect (even Bologna)! It’s modern, beautiful, has a lots of monument, a big arena, a lot of hotels and 2 airports. Plus, people are nicer than milanese!

Vincenzo
Vincenzo
3 years ago
Reply to  Stefano

What a beautiful thing to go on an international website to talk sh*t about the citizens of a neighbour region, proving to foreigners we are not united as a nation. Do I have to say “Torinesi falsi e cortesi” to reply to your comment? No. I won’t say that. But your comment is really a little bit depressing. I like Turin for some things. I like Milan for others.

Last edited 3 years ago by Vincenzo
Jo.
Jo.
3 years ago
Reply to  Vincenzo

well, you just did it ^^

sucof
sucof
3 years ago
Reply to  Stefano

when you say that the Turinese are nicer than the Milanese, it makes me think that you haven’t gone out of your house!

ItaloV
ItaloV
3 years ago
Reply to  Stefano

C’mon now guys.. smettetela… each city has some stereotypes and at the same time people are entitled to their opinions. Milano is a great city but is more like our workaholic capital, and people do not tend to smile a lot in public, whereas Torino is more industrial and the vibe is a little bit more relax, from the view of outsiders. this coming from someone from Genova, where we don’t need to say that we only know how to mugugnare. I believe Torino has a stronger package to host Eurovision, but wherever RAI chooses it will be just great… Read more »

Luc
Luc
3 years ago

So the potential host is practically among 4 cities. I can’t wait for next year! The music and the postcards will be delightful!

Sot
Sot
3 years ago

Milan, Turin, Pesaro, Rimini and mayyybe Bologna. All others to me seem too irrelevant to host a major song contest like Eurovision

Edit: Ok, Rome isn’t irrelevant are some others definitely have a larger population than Rimini and Pesaro, I just don’t feel Rome as a nice host city

Last edited 3 years ago by Sot
Jo.
Jo.
3 years ago

bidding wars??!! HYPED

vetrina
vetrina
3 years ago

TURIN 2022 all the way!!!

Princess Montana Deluxe
Princess Montana Deluxe
3 years ago

OFF TOPIC: but will Italy avoid the host country curse? Usually the host countries do very poor, but since Italy selects their entry from a competition “San Remo” they will always send quality no matter what.

Maybe Italy can do very well even as a host country!!!

MaskedKami
MaskedKami
3 years ago

My country (Sweden) did well as a host country with a song picked by our national selection. I have no reason to believe that Italy can’t get a solid result next year if the Sanremo winners ends up going.

Ashton
Ashton
3 years ago
Reply to  MaskedKami

but then again Azerbaijan got top 5 via an internal selection. I dont think the selection really matters, it’s just whether the song is enough for the jury and public to respond to. as an example, I was in love with o jardim but neither the jury nor the public appreciated. it just comes down to what they are both feeling on the night.

Azaad
Azaad
3 years ago
Reply to  Ashton

Also O Jardim got 39 points in the end, which is very high for a 26th placed song. This year, that result would’ve got them 22nd.

dade
dade
3 years ago

maybe some host contries just want to make sure they don’t have to host again the fallowing year?

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
3 years ago
Reply to  dade

Yeah, I always suspect host countries deliberately send weaker songs so they don’t host twice in a row.

Sucof
Sucof
3 years ago

Rimini (Fair)comment image

Rho ( Milano, Fair )comment image

Last edited 3 years ago by Sucof
Vincenzo
Vincenzo
3 years ago
Reply to  Sucof

Sucov, do you post the Rho Fiera area because you know what Milano proposed or you are just guessing? Problem of those pavillons (and any pavillon) is presence or absence of pillars, height of the roof and its loading capacity. 18 meters (minimum) is not common. Additionally is presence of hair conditioning. It would be crazy for RAI to choose a location that has to be adapted while they have the Pala Alpitour in Turin which is ready as it is.

Sucof
Sucof
3 years ago
Reply to  Vincenzo

are hypotheses, if I’m not mistaken, the Eurovision has also been set up inside exhibition halls, am I wrong?

Vincenzo
Vincenzo
3 years ago
Reply to  Sucof

Yes. In Ukraine and in Tel Aviv. But they must have the characteristics required. Usually the roofs for those halls are not suitable for additional heavy loading. And they mustn’t have pillars in the middle.

Vincenzo
Vincenzo
3 years ago
Reply to  Vincenzo

Air conditioning, of course. Stupid phone artificial intelligence who proposes stupid words and replaces them.

Kristian
Kristian
3 years ago
Reply to  Vincenzo

That’s no criterià please , even my washroom has hair conditioning equipments and it can’t host.

Vincenzo
Vincenzo
3 years ago
Reply to  Kristian

Yeah. You are funny. Well, Eurovision organized in an hair saloon would be an exciting option. Like Nikkie Tutorial’s stage.

Darren
3 years ago

As I said previously, the only real contenders are Rome, Milan, Turin and Bologna. With Turin probably the most likely.
As if a beach resort like Lido de Jesolo will be chosen with their 4,000 capacity arena etc.

Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
3 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Beach resorts gotta dream!

Just being on the list is good for places like Jesolo, and can help them for other more realistic bids in the future.

Vincenzo
Vincenzo
3 years ago

Guys, don’t worry. Most of the candidatures have been done for political reasons. To show the local citizens their politicians care of them. As soon as RAI/EBU will explain to those silly politicians how many millions of euros they have to put on the table to co-finance the event, they will disappear like snow under the august sun. 🙂 At the end it will be Turin with Milan or Bologna as dark horses. The only chance for Rome is to present a suitable venue, but the cost will increase as the venue shall be transformed in an arena. And most… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Vincenzo
sucof
sucof
3 years ago

Milanocomment image

Torinocomment image

Bolognacomment image

Last edited 3 years ago by sucof
Vincenzo
Vincenzo
3 years ago
Reply to  sucof

In still believe the location in Palazzo delle Scintille (Milano) is the more iconic. Practically if Chiara Ferragni will be confirmed as co-host (I hope not), she will walk 3 minutes from her apartment to the ESC venue. 🙂 Having seen some pictures of the internal, I don’t think Palazzo delle Scintille is high enough to build a massive stage like the ones used in ESC and the pavillon is not large enough to accommodate all the 10k seats for the audience. The best solution is Pala Alpitour in Turin.

Jenny
Jenny
3 years ago
Reply to  Vincenzo

Palazzo delle Scintille can host up to 13k people for concerts and the roof is 32 metres, but I don’t think that it would be solid enough to hang the necessary parts for the stage

Vincenzo
Vincenzo
3 years ago
Reply to  Jenny

I think too. It’s 32 meters but it’s arch shaped. So probably at the edge is lower. I have seen pictures of the inside and I don’t think it’s high enough on the two short sides where the stage should be built. They can host 10K people, but probably on the floor. If you build the bleachers with chairs the space is reduced. Believe me. It cannot host the ESC. Second problem, you are right. The roof is metal based with reticular trusses which have a limited capacity to be loaded. Pala Alpitour in Turin is much better.

Badwoolfgirl
Badwoolfgirl
3 years ago
Reply to  sucof

Wow, they look so beautiful.

Vincenzo
Vincenzo
3 years ago
Reply to  Badwoolfgirl

Yes. Definitely the surroundings close to the Palazzo delle Scintille in Milan would definitely be the more iconic ever in all the history of the ESC. This is the Citylife district, with the 3 skyscapers named il Dritto (the straight), il curvo (the curved) e lo storto (the crooked), headquarters of Allianz, Generali and PWC. This area was the largest exhibition center inside a city in the world. The location called “Fiera Campionaria” which has been moved outside Milano (close to the area where the expo 2015 was hosted) and completely demolished. The last remaining pavillion of that exhibition center,… Read more »

Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago
Reply to  Vincenzo

Don’t forget the Hofburg palace, the Royal Albert Hall, maybe also the last time it was in Italy.

Vincenzo
Vincenzo
3 years ago
Reply to  sucof

How is it possible to add pictures to a post?

Jenny
Jenny
3 years ago
Reply to  sucof

Has it been confirmed that Milan has chosen Palazzo delle Scintille as their venue?

Vincenzo
Vincenzo
3 years ago
Reply to  Jenny

Not yet. The candidature of Milan has not been detailed yet. Forum di Assago is loaded with concerts between april and may. Other problem for the Palazzo delle Scintille is the absence of any close plain aread to build the press center and the required pavillons for changing rooms for the delegation with an easy access. I believe the only option for Milano is Forum Di Assago. Still not clear the height of its arena, probably 15,60 meters not 18 as requested by EBU. Here is an example of a tv show similar to ESC inside the Forum di Assago:… Read more »

Sucof
Sucof
3 years ago
Reply to  sucof

let’s remember the RHO fair near Milan, the largest exhibition center in Europe.

Last edited 3 years ago by Sucof
Vincenzo
Vincenzo
3 years ago
Reply to  Sucof

Yes. But read my post to your previous post with pictures. Not all the pavillons on exhibition centers are suitable.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
3 years ago

And so it begins. Let’s see how this list of 17 will whittle down.

Mark
Mark
3 years ago

It’s literally a three horses race: Turin, Milan, Bologna.

Ziv
Ziv
3 years ago

Eight of the ten most recent wiwibloggs articles are on Italy. If it had been another country, I would have felt super annoyed. But since it is Italy, the country I love the most, I am happy.

Last edited 3 years ago by Ziv
sam
sam
3 years ago
Reply to  Ziv

its almost as if they won eurovision and are hosting the next contest

Stefano
Stefano
3 years ago
Reply to  Ziv

Thank you <3

James
James
3 years ago

Who will be Italy’s Next Top Eurovision Host City?

Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago
Reply to  James

Torino.

Alex
Alex
3 years ago

I think Sanremo and Jesolo are very likely not going to be selected since their proposed, or at least rumored, venues do not meet the size requirements. That said, it is likely that it will come down to Rome, Milan, and Turin (just my guess though)

ROXELANA
ROXELANA
3 years ago

Lol, so they basically also accepted bids that don’t even fulfill the requirements?

Anyway, I do think that it’s going to be between Turin, Milan, Bologna and possibly Rome either way. (Yes, I know that their venue is not the most suitable and that they already suffer from mass tourism, but it’s still the capital and the biggest city, so you never know).

Last edited 3 years ago by ROXELANA
ROXELANA
ROXELANA
3 years ago
Reply to  ROXELANA

True. For me it doesn’t really matter. Italy is such a beautiful country with many diverse cities. Given their venue, I also think that it’s unlikely that it will be Rome; however, there are always some countries who want to organize big events only in their captial for various reasons, that’s why I said that one shouldn’t underestimate Rome. And you are absolutely right.. the postcards will be beautiful. They will most likely feature lots of different food 😀 I wonder where my country would host the contest if we won. It would most likely, like 90%, be Istanbul, but… Read more »

ROXELANA
ROXELANA
3 years ago
Reply to  ROXELANA

Definitely agree! I’m sure Italy will pull out a show to remember. As for Turkey, we are all eagerly awaiting the news.. any news, actually, whether it be positive or negative. I guess TRT will either confirm in August/September our non-participation or the EBU will announce Turkey’s return in two different ways: Either in the final list of participating countries in October/November or separately even before that period, possibly in August/September. Normally, I wouldn’t have been that optimistic about our return, but since both the EBU and TRT have confirmed the news themselves, it made us all more hopeful. I… Read more »

willchrisiam
willchrisiam
3 years ago
Reply to  ROXELANA

Turkey can’t be back if they didn’t broadcast this year’s edition. Did they? You need to broadcast all 3 shows in order to be able to compete the following year.

ROXELANA
ROXELANA
3 years ago
Reply to  willchrisiam

As far as I know, that rule doesn’t exist anymore. If so, Armenia wouldn’t be able to return as well, since they didn’t broadcast this year’s edition either.

Also, why would the EBU state “We’re in talks with TRT with the aim of bringing them back to the contest”, if that rule existed?

Last edited 3 years ago by ROXELANA
willchrisiam
willchrisiam
3 years ago
Reply to  ROXELANA

I completely forgot about the Armenia situation. You might be right. About the statement – because of that (probably abandoned) rule I assumed they would announce that Turkey would be back in 2023 after broadcasting the 2022 shows.

AdD
AdD
3 years ago
Reply to  ROXELANA

I doubt that the EBU will bend major rules for a single country.

Last edited 3 years ago by AdD
khm
khm
3 years ago
Reply to  ROXELANA

If I understood it correctly, these 17 cities only sent a letter of intention to Rai they want to host Eurovision. Rai accepted those letters and they will send bid books to the mayors to fulfil with acquired data. We have to have in mind one thing that Italy’s economy really depends on tourism and most of these cities sent the letters just to create a fuzz about them (one mayor from Sicily confirmed it yesterday). Since tourism collapsed thanks to Covid, they will definitely see Eurovision as a weapon to bring back foreign tourists.

Last edited 3 years ago by khm
Rifki
Rifki
3 years ago

oh my God, finally Milan and Rome are actually submit the hosting bid. but realistically, only they, plus Turin and/or Bologna, are eligible to host the contest.