Road to Basel: Italy
Road to Basel: Italy
This is the road to Basel: Italy. As we eagerly anticipate the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Today, we focus on Italy.
Lucio Corsi
Lucio Corsi is an Italian singer-songwriter hailing from Tuscany. Known for his poetic lyrics and unique musical style, he blends elements of folk, rock, and Italian chanson. Corsi’s artistic expression often incorporates whimsical storytelling, reflecting on themes of identity and self-discovery. His distinctive approach has garnered him critical acclaim within the Italian music scene.
Volevo essere un duro (what AI says)
“Volevo essere un duro” (“I Wanted to Be a Tough Guy”) is a track from Corsi’s fourth studio album, released on March 21, 2025. The song features poetic lyrics that explore themes of identity and self-perception. Corsi’s performance combines delicate melodies with a touch of humor, offering a profound reflection on societal expectations and personal aspirations. The song has been praised for its introspective nature and artistic depth.
National Selection Process
Italy traditionally uses the Sanremo Music Festival to select its Eurovision representative. In 2025, Olly won the festival with “Balorda nostalgia” but declined the Eurovision opportunity due to scheduling conflicts. Consequently, RAI, Italy’s national broadcaster, appointed the runner-up, Lucio Corsi, to represent the country with his song “Volevo essere un duro.” This decision underscores RAI’s commitment to showcasing Italy’s diverse musical talent on the international stage.
The top-10 results of San Remo were:
- Olly, “Balorda nostalgia“
- Lucio Corsi, “Volevo essere un duro“
- Brunori Sas, “L’albero della noci“
- Fedez, “Battito“
- Simone Cristicchi, “Quando sarai piccola“
- Giorgia, “La cura per me“
- Achille Lauro, “Incoscienti giovani“
- Francesco Gabbani, “Viva la vita“
- Irama, “Lentamente“
- Cuoricini, “Coma con me“
Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest
Italy has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since its inception in 1956, achieving three victories: in 1964 with Gigliola Cinquetti‘s “Non ho l’età,” in 1990 with Toto Cutugno‘s “Insieme: 1992,” and in 2021 with Måneskin‘s “Zitti e buoni.” As a member of the “Big Five,” Italy automatically qualifies for the Grand Final, allowing its entries to consistently showcase the nation’s rich musical heritage.
photo: EBU/Thomas Hanses
A Random Italian Entry
Reflecting on Italy’s Eurovision history, we asked random.org to get one of the former Italian entries out of the archives. It’s a duo, and quite a recent one: Ermal Meta and Fabrizio Moro, San Remo winners, represented Italy in 2018. With Ermal Meta, they brought an Albanian singer on stage for Italy. Their song was “Non mi avete fatto niente”. Enjoy!
Betting Odds
As of now, Lucio Corsi’s “Volevo essere un duro” has a 12th place in the betting odds. That means Lucio has the 12th chance to win the contest. Will it also mean that, in the final, Lucio might end up around the 12th place? We don’t know.
We eagerly await the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel and look forward to witnessing Lucio Corsi’s performance on the grand stage.
Malta: Malta’s broadcaster PBS has announced it will hold a national selection for Eurovision 2026. The Malta Eurovision Song Contest (MESC) will be held to choose Malta’s entry (Eurovoix). 
Austria: Austria is looking to organize a televised national final to pick its 2026 act. According to Kleine Zeitung, an ORF spokesperson stated that the 2026 representative will not be chosen internally, paving the way for Austria’s first public selection since 2016 (Kleine Zeitung). 
Spain: Spain has opened song submissions for Benidorm Fest 2026, its national selection event. RTVE (the Spanish broadcaster) began accepting entries on June 5, 2025 (Eurovoix, June 5, 2025). Spanish artists and songwriters have the chance to submit songs for Eurovision 2026. 