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The Sanremo Music Festival is the most popular Italian song contest and awards, held annually in the town of Sanremo, Imperia, Italy, and consisting of a competition amongst previously unreleased songs. The Festival was the inspiration for the Eurovision Song Contest.

X Factor is the Italian version of the British musical talent show The X Factor. The first four seasons aired on Rai 2, but since 2011 it has been broadcast on Sky Uno, with reruns on TV8, after Rai dropped the show due to high costs. Sky Italia acquired the format, extending its broadcast until 2024. Starting from the eleventh season, RTL 102.5 became the official radio station, replacing Radio Deejay and Radio 105. The show was hosted by Francesco Facchinetti (2008-2010), Alessandro Cattelan (2011-2020), Ludovico Tersigni (2021), and Francesca Michielin (2022-2023). From 2024 onwards, Giorgia will take over as host. Since the seventh season, the show has been produced by Fremantle Italia without the collaboration of Magnolia, which had produced the selection episodes in the early seasons.

The Opening Ceremony of Milano Cortina 2026 features blockbuster acts from international artists including five-time Grammy Award-winner Mariah Carey, Golden Globe winner Laura Pausini and famed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, to the award-winning actor and producer Pierfrancesco Favino and The White Lotus’ Emmy-nominated star Sabrina Impacciatore.