New Year's Eve 2026 in Alghero has sparked political controversy, following the announcement of concerts by Raf, Kid Yugi, Sassari rapper Low-Red, and finally Gabry Ponte, spread across three days.
"After a year, the Cacciotto Administration is contradicting itself and returning to the three-day model imposed by the center-right," attacks Alessio Auriemma, deputy city coordinator of the Brothers of Italy party . "Only twelve months ago, the left harshly criticized that format. Today, it's reintroducing it in its entirety, demonstrating it has no clear direction. And it's also arriving more than a month later than other cities like Olbia, reducing the promotional impact for tourism operators."
Former mayor Mario Conoci agrees, claiming ownership of the model introduced in 2023: "It's a format that has made Alghero a hub for Sardinian New Year's Eve, combining entertainment, culture, and tourism. Continuity is good, but more timely announcements were needed. The city's success doesn't belong to one political faction, but to the entire community."
Roberto Ferrara of the Five Star Movement responded: "There's no contradiction, no sacrifice: we're building a different model, one that looks beyond a single night of celebration. We want New Year's Eve to be part of a broader cultural and tourism program, one that celebrates local identity, language, traditions, food and wine, and talent. It's not ideology, but a vision: a city alive year-round, not just for one night of concerts." Ferrara is keen to point out that the model chosen by the City Council and the Alghero Foundation is not based "on the fleeting pursuit of a catchy name, good for just one night and forgotten the next. Confusing reflection on the need for a change of perspective with a supposed ideological about-face," Ferrara warns, "is a stretch that belongs more to propaganda than to political debate."
Giampietro Moro, of Città Viva, also defends Cap d'Any 2026 and believes it's "quite ridiculous to pin medals on it, attributing to the center-right the task of creating the brand of 'best New Year's Eve in Sardinia'." Likewise, the alarms about alleged delays in promoting the event and the comparisons with the Municipality of Olbia are misplaced. "When we were there," Moro concludes, "is just a nostalgic joke, in questionable taste."
