Don Matteo 15 to Take a Break for Sanremo 2026 and the Winter Olympics

Fans of the popular Italian drama Don Matteo 15 will see a temporary pause in new episodes as Rai adjusts its programming for the upcoming Festival di Sanremo 2026 and the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. The series, starring Raoul Bova and Nino Frassica, will be temporarily sidelined to produce way for these major televised events.

Sanremo and Olympics Impacting Schedule

From February 24th to 28th, 2026, Rai 1 will be dedicated to broadcasting the Festival di Sanremo, hosted by Carlo Conti with the participation of Laura Pausini . The music festival will air nightly from Tuesday to Saturday. Don Matteo 15 will not air during this week.

Rai Due will broadcast the Winter Olympics Milano-Cortina beginning February 7th, 2026 .

Return to Spoleto in March

Don Matteo 15 is expected to resume its regular broadcast schedule with the eighth episode on Thursday, March 5th, 2026 . The pause is a standard adjustment to the network’s programming and is not related to production issues or audience numbers.

What to Expect in Upcoming Episodes

The eighth episode will continue storylines left unresolved in the seventh, particularly focusing on the evolving relationship between Diego Martini and Giulia Mezzanotte. Diego’s insecurities regarding Giulia’s potential career move away from Spoleto are expected to create tension, potentially leading to a breaking point. Giulia will grapple with whether her desire for change represents a genuine opportunity for growth or an attempt to escape .

Guest Star Appearance

The seventh episode, which aired on February 19th, 2026, featured a guest appearance by chef Alessandro Borghese .

Other Programming Adjustments

The game present Affari Tuoi, hosted by Stefano de Martino, will also be temporarily paused during the week of the Sanremo Festival .