Sanremo Music Festival 2026: Dates, Hosts, and What to Expect

The 76th Sanremo Music Festival, officially the 76º Festival della canzone italiana, is set to take place from February 24 to February 28, 2026, at the Teatro Ariston in Sanremo, Italy. The festival, organized and broadcast by Radiotelevisione italiana (RAI), will feature a blend of established artists and emerging talents, culminating in the selection of Italy’s potential representative for the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.

Dates and Schedule

The 2026 edition of the Sanremo Music Festival will unfold over five nights:

• Semi-final 1: February 24, 2026
• Semi-final 2: February 25, 2026
• Semi-final 3: February 26, 2026
• Semi-final 4: February 27, 2026
• Final: February 28, 2026

Hosts and Artistic Direction

Carlo Conti will return as both the host and artistic director of the 2026 Sanremo Music Festival. He will be joined by singer Laura Pausini. The first night will also feature Can Yaman, while Achille Lauro, Lillo and Pilar Fogliati will host the second night. Irina Shayk will host the third night, Bianca Balti the fourth, and Giorgia Cardinaletti the fifth. Gianluca Gazzoli will host the Newcomers’ section.

Festival Format

The festival will maintain its traditional structure, featuring both a Huge Artists section with 30 entries and a Newcomers’ section with 4 entries. The winner of the festival will have the first option to represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.

The five nights will include performances of original songs, with the third night dedicated to “Cover Night,” where artists will reinterpret iconic Italian and international hits.

Voting System

The voting system will incorporate input from three sources: televote (public voting), a press jury, and a radio jury. Both the Big Artists and Newcomers’ sections will utilize this combined voting approach to determine the winners.

Strategic Scheduling and the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics

RAI strategically scheduled the 2026 Sanremo Music Festival to begin after the conclusion of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which will take place from February 2 to February 26, 2026. This decision aims to avoid overlap between two of Italy’s major media events and capitalize on the continued national excitement following the Olympics. This marks the latest start date for the festival since 2021.