Rai pulls popular music shows Via dei Matti and Gli occhi del musicista

Italy’s public broadcaster Rai announced it will not renew the cultural‑music programme "Via dei Matti" on Rai 3, ending the show after five seasons since its 2021 debut. Hosts pianist Stefano Bollani and actress‑singer Valentina Cenni said the decision was unexpected, noting the show enjoyed strong audience figures. Rai said it offered the duo a new prime‑time slot called "Quattro Stagioni", which they declined.

In a separate move, the broadcaster also confirmed the cancellation of Enrico Ruggeri’s programme "Gli occhi del musicista" for the upcoming autumn season. Ruggeri denounced the decision on social media, labeling Rai’s schedulers “soldatini dell'intellighenzia” and lamenting the loss of a valuable platform for live music and cultural dialogue. Both cancellations have drawn criticism from musicians and viewers who praised the programmes for showcasing diverse Italian artists.