Federculture 2026 Report: Cultural Tourism Growth, Urban Regeneration Potential, and Persistent Precariousness in Italy

The 22nd edition of Federculture's Annual Report 'Impressa Cultura' was presented on July 21 in Rome's Sala Spadolini. Titled 'La cultura che cambia i territori,' it analyzes 2025 data. Key findings: Italian municipalities now spend €1 billion more on culture than pre-COVID; average monthly family cultural spending rose 1.7% from 2019 to 2025 but inflation-adjusted shows a 4.7% decline. Employment in the sector grew slightly but remains precarious with lower permanent contracts and low youth attraction (Italy has the fewest under-30 cultural workers in Europe). Cultural tourism is a major driver: in 1,000 culturally classified municipalities, tourist presences increased 9.8% (2019-2025) vs. 5% national average. Urban regeneration projects under the PNRR show one in five involves culture. Federculture and ANCI will launch an Observatory on urban regeneration in September 2026. President Andrea Cancellato noted that only one in ten Italians attends a theater performance once a year, calling for cost interventions like Cinema Revolution. The report highlights that cultural investment multiplier in municipalities and cultural enterprises is 9.