Italy will compete in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam.
RAI, the Italian national broadcaster, has confirmed on the official Italian Eurovision Facebook page that they will be participating in Eurovision 2020. The method with which the Italian representative for Rotterdam will be chosen has yet to be confirmed although it is expected that RAI will use the Festival di Sanremo to select their representative. Since their return to the contest in 2011, only in 2014, has Rai not opted to give the winner of the contest first refusal to represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Mahmood represented Italy in Tel Aviv with the song “Soldi”. He finished second in the Grand Final with 472, equalling Italy’s best finish in the contest since their return in 2011.
The Eurovision Song Contest will be brought back to the Netherlands for the 2020 edition after Duncan Laurence’s victory at the 2019 contest with his song “Arcade”. To date, 39 countries have confirmed preliminary participation. These countries are:
- Albania
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Malta
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
Source: Eurovision Song Contest Italia
Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest
Italy debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 and has participated a total of 42 times to date. Italy returned to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011 having last participated in the contest in 1997, the country has withdrawn from the contest on a number of occasions in the past. Italy has won the contest twice, the first time being in 1964 and the latest being in 1990. Italy’s hosting of the contest in 1991 has been remembered as one of the most chaotic contests to date. Since their return in 2011 Italy has finished in the top 10 on seven occasions.
