A presentation in the territory

Rai chose the Teatro delle Muse in Ancona to unveil its autumn-winter 2026-2027 schedules, a move CEO Giampaolo Rossi said was meant to bring the public broadcaster out of its traditional spaces and into the squares and streets of Italy. The event confirmed a season of continuity, with many flagship entertainment shows returning, while also introducing new faces and formats across the three main channels.

Confirmations and new entries

Among the returning titles are Affari Tuoi, Ballando con le Stelle, The Voice Senior, Tale e Quale Show, and Domenica In with Mara Venier. Stefano De Martino will remain artistic director of Sanremo also in 2028. New prime-time offerings include Sal da Vinci celebrating 50 years of his career with two event nights on Rai1, and Roberto Benigni with a special evening dedicated to Saint Francis. Rai2 will see the arrival of Roberto Inciocchi with the political talk show Patù, while Vittorio Brumotti lands Ultima Chiamata. On Rai3, Eleonora Daniele debuts in prime time with Le cose che non sai, a five-week Thursday slot. The daytime sees Salvo Sottile taking the helm of Ore 14, replacing Milo Infante who moved to Mediaset, and Antonino Monteleone at Filorosso.

The Chi l'ha visto? vacancy

Despite the flurry of announcements, the host chair of Chi l'ha visto? remains empty. Federica Sciarelli left the programme after 22 years, with her final episode airing on 1 July. Rossi paid tribute to her, saying,

“we will miss her greatly and I do not rule out other projects with her.”

The show closed the season with an average of about 1.4 million viewers and a 9.1% share, making the choice of a successor delicate.

Coletta steps back

Stefano Coletta, director of Genre Coordination and a former writer of the programme, was the first choice to replace Sciarelli. He confirmed he had long considered the offer but ultimately declined.

“I wanted to do it, because among those I wrote it is the programme closest to my heart. But I believe everyone must do their own thing, and at a late age everyone must continue to do their own thing.”

He praised Sciarelli's unique ability to handle crime reporting with restraint, calling her irreplaceable, and did not exclude that she might one day return.

Sciarelli's legacy and future

Sciarelli appeared visibly moved during her last broadcast, telling viewers,

“Thank you, I am reading you all, ours is a beautiful community, it must not be dispersed.”

Reports cite accumulated fatigue, the spread of similar formats on other channels, and the emotional weight of years spent close to grieving families as reasons for her departure. Her contract expires at the end of July, and Rai is discussing new projects with her. Other names floated for the role, including Eleonora Daniele and Francesca Fialdini, are now committed to different programmes, leaving the search still open. CEO Rossi also left the door ajar for a possible return of Amadeus, should a serious project emerge.