Italians' cultural participation has returned to pre-pandemic levels in several sectors, although regional, social, and generational disparities remain significant. Live attendance is increasing, but cultural spending, despite nominal growth, is losing real weight in household budgets. According to data from Federculture's Annual Report, Italian culture is in the midst of a difficult transformation, with the system teetering between recovery and fragility. In 2024, average monthly spending on recreation, sports, and culture was €104.96, up 1.7 percent from 2019, but down more than 4% in real terms. The proportion of total family spending committed to cultural likewise decreased, from 4% to 3.8%. The distribution of cultural spending is heavily impacted by the region of residence, level of education, family composition, and presence of foreign members. Families in Northern and Central Italy spend an average of more than 125 euros a month, whereas in Southern Italy the figure is less than 70 euros. Educational qualifications continue to be among the factors most strongly associated with cultural consumption: families with children of primary school age or holding a postgraduate diploma spend an average of 189 euros per month on cultural activities, in contrast to only 33 euros for those with a primary school education. To facilitate the recovery, the Federculture Report emphasizes the necessity of a vision that regards culture as a shared asset and social infrastructure, capable of fostering social cohesion, economic development, and an improved quality of life.