SIAE Licence Fee for Weddings in Italy (2026)

Updated on 19 June 2026

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SIAE Licence Fee for Weddings in Italy (2026)

In this blog post, we'll provide information about the SIAE music licence for weddings in Italy and answer some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the topic.

Italian law establishes that those who organise a private event, show or any entertainment where copyrighted works are performed, live music or recorded, should ask the Società Italiana degli Autori ed Editori (aka SIAE or Italian Society of Authors and Publishers) for a licence to hold this event.

🔑 Key point: It is the responsibility of the event organiser (usually the couple) to apply for and pay the SIAE licence fee.

In 2026, SIAE licences are still required for almost all weddings with live or recorded music. Most couples pay between €272.58 and €582.75, with higher fees applying when DJs, playlists or multiple music moments are involved. The borderò is no longer required for private weddings, but the licence itself remains mandatory.

There is considerable confusion in Italy about who is responsible for completing the SIAE forms. Your musicians or wedding planner can help with the process, but the client/booker of the live music must start the process, and pay the required amount.

So how much is the SIAE licence fee likely to cost?

Generally speaking, the music tax in Italy will vary depending on the type of music (e.g. if it's live music performed by a wedding band in Italy, for example, or a DJ) and the number of guests at the event.

• For live music, where there are fewer than 200 guests, the cost is €272.58.

• For live music, where there are more than 200 guests, the cost is €412.63.

• For recorded music (e.g. DJ, karaoke, or Spotify playlist) where there are fewer than 200 guests, the cost is €384.73.

• For recorded music (e.g. DJ, karaoke, or Spotify playlist) where there are more than 200 guests, the cost is €582.75.

• For liturgical music in a church, with any number of guests, there is no fee.

If your wedding includes both live music and recorded music (for example, a band followed by a DJ or playlist), the recorded music tariff applies:

€384.73 for fewer than 200 guests
€582.75 for more than 200 guests

The SIAE licence can be purchased online ➡️

Practical tip for 2026: Many Italian venues will ask to see a copy of your SIAE licence on the day of the wedding. Once issued, simply download the permit and keep a digital copy on your phone.

The SIAE website is notoriously difficult to navigate. We often find that couples who visit the local SIAE office in person are able to obtain the licence more easily than trying to do it online.

A common question is who the 'fiscal code' relates to when it is requested in the SIAE licence application form. This relates to the personal tax number for the person applying for the licence, rather than the musicians.

The fee isn't charged by bands or musicians; rather it is a copyright licence fee paid directly to SIAE, which collects royalties on behalf of songwriters, composers and rights holders.

View our FAQs about the SIAE Licence ➡️

As of 8 July 2023, the SIAE abolished the requirement to submit the “borderò” (playlist form) for private events such as weddings, provided the event is not open to the public.

This means bands and DJs no longer need to submit a song list after the event. However, the SIAE licence and fee are still required whenever copyrighted music is played.

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The following video explains a bit more about the SIAE fee...

Payment of the license from SIAE is due for any wedding party where live or recorded music is performed. The requirement also applies to other types of private events, such as baptisms, garden parties, birthday parties and corporate events.

FAQ about the SIAE licence fee for weddings in Italy

We've put together some helpful frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the SIAE Licence for live wedding music in Italy...

How much does the SIAE licence fee cost for weddings in Italy?

For weddings in Italy, the SIAE permit usually costs between €272.58 and €582.75. The exact cost will depend on a few factors, such as the number of guests at your event and whether you have just a DJ playing recorded music or musicians playing live music. See above at the top of this article for more details.

Who is responsible for payment of the SIAE licence fee?

The general rule is that the event organiser is responsible for paying the SIAE fee. For weddings, this will usually be the couple getting married. For corporate events, it’s likely to be the company. So if you’re getting married in Italy and have hired a live band or DJ, you’ll need to ensure you pay the SIAE fee before your wedding date.

What happens if I don’t pay the SIAE tax?

SIAE inspectors will apply onerous penalties and most importantly, the arrival of the Inspectors will cause disruption to the ceremony or wedding reception, especially if the SIAE fees have not been paid beforehand. Responsibility ultimately sits with the event organiser, even if a planner assists.

Why is this important?

SIAE inspectors have been known to shut down parties that don’t have the relevant fees paid.

When should I pay the SIAE fee?

The SIAE fee needs to be paid before the date of the event.

Will the SIAE fee be more if I have both live music and a DJ at my wedding?

Yes, if you hire a covers band and a DJ or use a Spotify playlist at your wedding, you will need to pay the relevant SIAE licence fees that relate to both live music and DJ/Spotify (see the list above). In practice, this means the recorded music tariff applies.

Where can I get help with paying the SIAE tax?

Your local wedding planner or venue can often help advise on how to pay the relevant fees. Our wedding bands also have experience of dealing with this, so feel free to ask them about it when you enquire and they will be happy to help. If you don’t have a wedding planner, some of our bands are happy to apply for the SIAE licence themselves and handle the relevant paperwork, provided the client then reimburses them for the costs afterwards. This can often be done just a couple of days before the date of your wedding. Although it’s not the band’s responsibility to organise or pay for the SIAE permit, most will be willing to offer some support. We at FixTheMusic also have some local contacts who can often help obtain the SIAE licence for a small fee.

What happens after the event?

As of 8 July 2023, if your wedding is a private event (i.e. not open to the public), you are no longer required to file the ’borderò’ — the form that lists the songs played during the event. This means that your musicians or DJ do not need to submit a playlist to SIAE after the celebration. For public events or those organised by associations, the borderò remains mandatory.

Is the fee the same for other types of events?

No. The SIAE fee varies according to the type of event. The fees indicated above relate to weddings in Italy. Fees for birthday parties and other types of events, for example, are lower compared to weddings.

What is the meaning of SIAE?

SIAE stands for Società Italiana degli Autori ed Editori.

Is SIAE similar to PRS?

Yes. SIAE in Italy performs a similar role to PRS in the UK. Both organisations collect licence fees when copyrighted music is played at events and distribute royalties to songwriters, composers and publishers. The main difference is simply the country they operate in: PRS covers the UK, while SIAE covers Italy. If you are planning a wedding in Italy, you will need the SIAE licence rather than PRS.

Does the SIAE fee apply to music performed in church (e.g. for the wedding ceremony)?

The SIAE fee does not generally apply to music performed in church, as liturgical pieces are not protected under copyright by the SIAE.

When should I purchase the SIAE licence?

We recommend purchasing your SIAE licence 1–4 weeks before the wedding. This gives enough time to resolve any issues with the online portal, which can be difficult to navigate. It is technically possible to obtain the licence just a few days before the event (and many couples do), but applying earlier ensures a smoother process, especially for destination weddings where time is tight and communication can be slower. Once the licence is issued, simply download the permit and share it with your musicians or DJ.

Is there an alternative to SIAE in Italy?

Since Italy liberalised its copyright market in 2017, a private collecting society called Soundreef (operating through LEA, Liberi Editori e Autori) has offered an alternative to SIAE for music authors. However, SIAE still manages the vast majority of Italian and international music rights in Italy. For practical purposes, couples getting married in Italy should obtain a SIAE licence. This covers almost all popular music you are likely to have at a wedding, including international artists like Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé and Coldplay.

Who is exempt from paying the SIAE fee?

Not every wedding or event in Italy requires a SIAE licence. You may be exempt if your situation falls into one of these categories:

1. No copyrighted music is performed

If the event includes no music or only original music written by your musicians, the SIAE fee does not apply.

2. Classical music that is in the public domain

Music by composers such as Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Handel, Schubert, Chopin and many others is not protected under modern copyright and therefore does not incur a SIAE fee, as long as the arrangement is also in the public domain.

3. Church ceremonies using purely liturgical music

For Catholic wedding Masses or church ceremonies featuring only sacred, liturgical repertoire, no SIAE licence is required.

4. Elopements or symbolic ceremonies with no music

If there is no live or recorded music at all, no licence is needed.

5. Events using solely non-copyright / traditional songs

This includes:

Traditional folk songs
Religious hymns in the public domain
Public-domain classical works

If any copyrighted music (e.g. Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Beyoncé, Andrea Bocelli) is played at any point (live or recorded) then a SIAE licence is required.

We've translated the key information from the official SIAE website below:

The online portal allows you to obtain a license for a private party or wedding with the performance of pieces of music protected by the SIAE and to pay the compensation due for copyright and accessories (administrative procedural rights, any related rights and invoice VAT).

Private events mean weddings, baptisms, birthday parties, graduation parties and similar celebrations offered by individuals and reserved for invited guests only.

In the event that the music was not live but recorded, in addition to the remuneration for copyright, a fee is also due for the so-called related rights, due to the producers of the music and to the performers of the pieces.

For recorded music, we mean both playing through CD, DVD etc, and that performed by a DJ.

In order to use the online service for issuing permission and paying copyright (as well as any related rights) for private parties or events, the applicant must necessarily be both an adult (who enters their own tax code), and an occasional organiser of private events.

The payment of the copyright is due upon the issue of the permit. It will thus be possible to obtain the permit for free events quickly and easily, manage the music program in digital format and pay the amount due directly online.

All of our Italian bands have promo videos as well as videos of live events so that you can get an exact idea for how they will perform at your wedding.

Our bands work hard to release regular video updates that are uploaded to their profiles.

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Adam Southall

Adam is a co-founder of FixTheMusic and works on everything from copywriting and marketing to design and user experience. He studied Music at Cambridge University. Adam is a keen pianist, and also learned cello and trumpet from an early age.