Italy won the right to stage next year’s event when Måneskin gave their country its first win since 1990 with the song Zitti e Buoni at this year’s Contest in May.
The Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 will take place at the PalaOlimpico, one of Italy’s largest indoor arenas, on Saturday 14 May with Semi-Finals on 10 and 12 May.
Italian public broadcaster Rai, together with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), will organise the event next year and will formalise the related agreements together and with the City of Turin in the coming weeks.
Turin was chosen following a strong city bid process. A total of 17 Italian cities and regions competed to host the world’s largest live music event, which reached nearly 190 million viewers on TV and online in 2021.
Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl welcomed the choice: “Turin is the perfect Host City for the 66th Eurovision Song Contest. As we saw during the 2006 Winter Olympics, PalaOlimpico exceeds all the requirements needed to stage a global event of this scale and we have been very impressed with the enthusiasm and commitment from the City of Turin who will welcome thousands of fans next May. This will be the first Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Italy in 30 years and, together with our Host broadcaster Rai, we are determined to make it a special one.”
Rai’s CEO Carlo Fuortes added: “We are happy that Turin will host the next edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, the international festival loved by a huge audience in every country.”
“Thanks to the beautiful victory of the Maneskin, the singing competition returns to Italy after 31 years, in a city that has all the characteristics to host such a prestigious event.”
“The choice made by Rai, together with EBU, was not easy given the very high level of the proposals made by the competing cities, which I thank for their enthusiastic participation.”
“From today, an exciting journey begins for Rai and the city of Turin that will lead us to May 2022. A great challenge for Rai and for our country.”
The Mayor of Turin, Chiara Appendino is also excited to bring the Contest to their city in May 2022: “Hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin is, at the same time, a great honour and a great result for our city and our country.”
“After inaugurating a new season of great events, Turin will be a stage for music and culture, in a dynamic and inclusive international event that will involve the whole city. We are delighted to represent Italy in front of such a large audience and we are already preparing to welcome guests from all over Europe. As always, we will be ready.”
Italy will host the Eurovision Song Contest for a third time having previously staged the event in Naples in 1965 and Rome in 1991.
Further details about the shows, tickets and accompanying events will be revealed in the coming weeks and months.
