Eurovision 2026: When Sal Da Vinci Sings and Where to Watch It on TV

Da Tuesday May 12 2026 part theEuro Vision Song Contest 2026, live from Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, in Austria. Italy will be represented by Sal Da Vinci with Forever Yes, winning song of the 2026 Festival of Sanremo.

The Neapolitan singer is already qualified for the final on Saturday 16th May, but will also go on stage during the first semi-final on May 12th to perform the song out of competition. The semi-finals will be broadcast on Rai 2, while the final will be broadcast on Rai 1, always give 21:00, with live streaming on RaiPlay.

When will Sal Da Vinci sing at Eurovision 2026?

Sal Da Vinci will sing in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, scheduled for Saturday, May 16., when Italy will officially compete with “Forever Yes“. However, his name will also appear on the opening night of Tuesday, May 12, because the Italian representative will perform the song during the first semi-final, without being included in the vote reserved for the countries competing for qualification.

The distinction is important for those following the event at home: seeing Sal Da Vinci in prime time doesn't mean Italy has to get past a semifinal. Italy has direct access to the Eurovision final, so Sal Da Vinci's decisive performance will be on Saturday 16 May, while the passage on 12 May will serve to present the song to the European public..

The singer arrives in Vienna after his victory at the 76nd Sanremo Festival, achieved with a song built on a direct, melodic, and highly recognizable declaration of emotion. For Italian audiences, the curiosity will be twofold: to see how the song will be adapted to the international stage and to see if a song so rooted in melodic tradition will resonate with European tastes.

Where to watch Eurovision 2026 on TV?

Eurovision 2026 will be broadcast free-to-air on Rai channels., with the two semi-finals broadcast on Rai 2 and the final on Rai 1The television schedule includes the first appointment on Tuesday 12st May on Rai 2, the second semifinal on Thursday 14st May always on Rai 2 and the final on Saturday 16st May on Rai 1.

All three evenings are scheduled by 21:00, so anyone who wants to follow the race from the beginning will have to connect in prime time. Rai will entrust the Italian commentary to Gabriel Courses ed Elettra lamborghini, while Maria Sole Pollio will announce the Italian votes on the final evening.

The quick guide is simple: Eurovision semi-finals on Rai 2 on May 12th and 14th, final on Rai 1 on May 16th, always from 9pmFor Sal Da Vinci, the most important evening remains Saturday, because only in the final does Italy truly contribute to the result.

How to stream Eurovision 2026?

Eurovision 2026 will also be available for live streaming on RaiPlay, along with audio coverage on RaiPlay SoundThe broadcast will also be simulcast on RaiRadio2, a useful option for those who want to follow the race even without watching the video, perhaps while traveling or from mobile devices.

RaiPlay remains the most convenient solution for those who can't watch the event on a traditional television. Simply access the platform, select the live broadcast of the Rai channel scheduled for the evening, and follow the live broadcast. For the final on May 16th, therefore, the reference will be the live broadcast of Rai 1; for the semi-finals, however, the live broadcast of Rai 2.

Anyone who wants to watch Sal Da Vinci in streaming must use RaiPlay: on May 12th for the out-of-competition presentation in the first semi-final and on May 16th for the real competition in the finalUnless otherwise specified, RaiPlay remains the channel to monitor for related content, clips, or post-broadcast replays.

Why has Italy already qualified for the final?

Italy has already qualified for the final because it is among the countries with direct access to the last round of Eurovision., along with the other major contributors to the competition and the host country. For this reason, Sal Da Vinci doesn't have to go through the semifinals to earn a spot on the final night.

The presence in the first semifinal also serves to give visibility to the countries already in the final, allowing international audiences to hear the songs they will be performing again on Saturday in advance. However, this is not a competition for Italy: the result does not depend on the televoting on May 12th and does not affect their qualification, which they have already secured.

The mechanism to remember is: Sal Da Vinci sings on May 12th as a preview out of competition, then he really competes on May 16th in the final of Eurovision 2026This detail avoids a common misunderstanding, because many spectators see an artist on the semi-final stage and assume they're trying to qualify, while for Italy, that's not how it works.

What song is Sal Da Vinci bringing to Eurovision?

Sal Da Vinci brings Per Sempre Sì to Eurovision 2026, song with which he won the 2026 Festival of Sanremo and obtained the right to represent Italy. The song focuses on a melodic structure, a sentimental narrative, and a vocal style closely tied to the Italian performing tradition.

The title itself suggests the song's emotional direction: a declaration of loyalty, continuity, and love, with a direct language that can resonate even beyond Italy's borders. At Eurovision, however, a recognizable song isn't enough; staging, television impact, live vocals, and the ability to stand out among the many diverse offerings also count.

Per Sempre Sì arrives in Vienna with the weight of the Sanremo victory, but the Eurovision stage requires a different interpretation: less tied to the Italian context and more oriented to hit a European audience in a few minutesThis very passage will be one of the most observed aspects during Sal Da Vinci's performances.

Who hosts and commentates on Eurovision for the Italian public?

The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will be hosted in Vienna by Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski., while the Italian public will follow the three evenings with the commentary of Gabriel Courses ed Elettra lamborghiniThe couple will accompany the semi-finals and final, explaining the rules, artists, voting, and key moments of the competition.

The Italian commentary plays a more important role than it seems, because Eurovision is a highly codified event: semifinals, automatic finalists, televoting, juries, spokespersons, running order, and guests can be confusing for those who only follow the event once a year. Clear commentary helps to better understand each passage, especially when Italy enters the fray.

In the final on Saturday 16 May, Maria Sole Pollio will be the Italian spokesperson and will communicate the votes assigned by ItalyIt's one of the most recognizable moments of the evening, as each country announces part of its vote and contributes to the final ranking.