Ciao from Sanremo, this is Alloracast! Join ESC Insight’s bleary-eyed James Stephenson and Dude Points as they look back at the first night of the Festival, and look ahead to tonight’s show.

Will the bookies’ favourite win? Which songs break Sanremo’s traditional formula? Why will a politically charged song from a former winner be a major talking point? Which is “the wedding song to end all wedding songs?”James Stephenson and Dude Points report from the Sanremo rehearsals on today’s Alloracast.

From Ermal Meta’s political lyrics to Luche’s Neapolitan roots, Dude Points discovers what makes Sanremo 2026 a must-watch event for music fans as we preview its 76th Festival della Canzone Italiana.

Allora! Join James Stephenson and Dude Points in Italy every day this week as they enter the wild world of the Festival della Canzone Italiana to find out what’s going on in Sanremo.

While most National Finals focus on finding a song, Melodifestivalen focuses on keeping a nation glued to the sofa. This year’s Melfest has seen production decisions and scripting been a bigger focus than ever being the source of controversy, but why is entertainment so important to this show?

The sudden cancellation of the EBU’s ten-city summer plan suggests that even the biggest brands can misread their core audience. While interest in the Contest remains on an upwards trajectory, there are lessons to learn about what how to engage with the modern day Eurovision community.