Sanremo 2026: The 76th Italian Song Festival is Set to Begin
The 76th edition of the Festival di Sanremo, Italy’s most beloved music festival, is just around the corner, running from February 24th to 28th, 2026. This year’s competition features 30 artists vying for the coveted title and the opportunity to represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Here’s a comprehensive look at the lineup, the format, and what fans can anticipate.
The Lineup
Artistic director Carlo Conti has selected the following 30 artists to compete in Sanremo 2026:
- Tommaso Paradiso
- Serena Brancale
- Sayf
- Fedez & Marco Masini
- Sal Da Vinci
- Ditonellapiaga
- Tredici Pietro
- Chiello
- Samurai Jay
- Fulminacci
- Luché
- Leo Gassmann
- Arisa
- Raf
- Bambole di Pezza
- Nayt
- Ermal Meta
- Elettra Lamborghini
- Michele Bravi
- J-Ax
- Enrico Nigiotti
- Francesco Renga
- Mara Sattei
- LDA & AKA7even
- Levante
- Dargen D’Amico
- Patty Pravo
- Eddie Brock
- Maria Antonietta & Colombre
- Malika Ayane
Festival Format
Sanremo 2026 will follow its traditional five-night format, held at the Teatro Ariston in Sanremo, Liguria, Italy. Each night features a different voting system and focus:
- Night 1 (Tuesday, February 24th): All 30 artists perform their songs. The top 5 are determined by a 100% press jury (TV and online media).
- Night 2 (Wednesday, February 25th): 15 artists perform again. The top 5 are determined by a combination of 50% radio jury and 50% public televote.
- Night 3 (Thursday, February 26th): The remaining 15 artists perform. The top 5 are determined by a combination of 50% radio jury and 50% public televote.
- Night 4 (Friday, February 27th): Cover Night – Artists perform an Italian or international cover song released before December 31, 2025, with a guest performer. This night does not influence the final ranking.
- Night 5 (Saturday, February 28th): All 30 artists perform again. The ranking narrows to a Superfinal, and the overall winner of Sanremo 2026 is crowned.
Key Dates and Release Information
The song titles of the competing entries will be revealed on December 14th during the Giovani Final. Studio versions of all songs will be released on February 25th at midnight CET, immediately after all artists have performed their entries on the first night.
Italy at Eurovision
Italy has a strong history in the Eurovision Song Contest, having won three times (1964, 1990, and 2021). Lucio Corsi, the runner-up of Sanremo 2025, represented Italy at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest in Basel in 2025, achieving a respectable 5th place with the song “Volevo Essere Un Duro.”
Sanremo 2026 promises to be another exciting chapter in Italian music history, with a diverse lineup of artists and a captivating format.