The second evening of the Sanremo Festival 2026 saw a total of 9,053,000 viewers, marking a decline from the previous year's figures where the same evening attracted 11,800,000 viewers and a share of 64.6%. This trend of decreasing viewership continues, reflecting a general shift in audience engagement with the festival compared to previous years. In 2025, the audience consisted of 11.4 million from traditional television and an additional 400,000 viewers via alternative devices. The downward trend raises concerns among organizers about the festival's relevance and ability to attract audiences in an increasingly competitive entertainment landscape.

Comparatively, the viewership numbers from 2024 indicate that there were also declines in audience interest, with the second evening that year attracting 10,361,000 viewers and a share of 60.1%. The festival's organizers may need to explore innovative approaches or changes in programming to restore viewer engagement and compete with other forms of entertainment. Furthermore, the related on-demand content from the festival showed about 300,000 downloads on Raiplay in 2025, indicating that while traditional viewership is declining, there remains some interest in digital formats.

As the event continues, close monitoring of audience dynamics will be essential for future editions of the festival to adapt trends and improve engagement with both live broadcasts and digital media options.