Sanremo Music Festival 2026
| Sanremo Music Festival 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Dates and venue | |
| Semi-final 1 |
|
| Semi-final 2 |
|
| Semi-final 3 |
|
| Semi-final 4 |
|
| Final |
|
| Venue | Teatro Ariston Sanremo, Italy |
| Organisation | |
| Broadcaster | Radiotelevisione italiana (RAI) |
| Artistic director | Carlo Conti |
| Presenters | Carlo Conti |
The Sanremo Music Festival 2026 (Italian: Festival di Sanremo 2026), officially the 76th Italian Song Festival (76º Festival della canzone italiana), is set to be the 76th edition of the annual Sanremo Music Festival, a television song contest held in the Teatro Ariston of Sanremo, organised and broadcast by Radiotelevisione italiana (RAI). It will be held between 24 and 28 February 2026 and presented by Carlo Conti, who also serves as the artistic director for the competition.
Format
The 2026 edition of the Sanremo Music Festival is set to take place at the Teatro Ariston in Sanremo, Liguria, organised by the Italian public broadcaster RAI. Due to the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics being held in Italy between 6–22 February and 6–15 March 2026, respectively, the festival will take place in the last week of February 2026.[1][2][3]
Legal dispute over RAI's role
In December 2024, the regional administrative court (TAR) of Liguria ruled that the municipality of Sanremo could not directly appoint RAI as the organiser of the event, and that, starting in 2026, a public bid must be held in order to determine the organising company.[4] Two months later, RAI appealed the ruling, arguing that "[RAI's] branding is inseparable from the [festival's] format";[5] however, the Council of State would later uphold the TAR's decision in May 2025.[6] Despite a unilateral proposal forwarded by RAI, the municipality followed the TAR ruling[1] and published a public tender on 9 April 2025, with broadcasters being able to apply within 40 days.[7] Ultimately, the only applicant was RAI,[8] and, following the ruling of the Council of State, negotiations began between the broadcaster and the Sanremo municipality to define the terms of the new contract.[6]
Presenters
On 22 May 2024, RAI announced Carlo Conti – who had previously taken on the role in 2015, 2016 and 2017 – as the artistic director and main host of the 2025 and 2026 editions.[9][10] Following the 2025 edition, Conti confirmed his position as artistic director and possible host for the 2026 festival.[11]
Selections
Festival Giovani 2025
A number of artists competing in the festival will be determined through the Festival Giovani format, which will include a final in December 2025, presented by Carlo Conti and airing on Rai 1.[3]
References
- ^ a b La Mantia, Luca (18 February 2025). "Conti, i giudici e Cortina 2026: quante incognite per Sanremo". Il Tirreno (in Italian). Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ Landi, Mario (16 February 2025). "Sanremo 2026, problema date: coinciderà con le Olimpiadi Milano-Cortina. E la Rai deve ancora risolvere il nodo sede". Leggo (in Italian). Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ a b Conti, Andrea (27 June 2025). "Festival di Sanremo 2026 dopo le Olimpiadi invernali Milano-Cortina". FQ Magazine (in Italian). Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ "Tar Liguria, illegittimo affidamento Festival Sanremo a Rai" (in Italian). ANSA. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- ^ "'Non esiste il Festival di Sanremo senza di noi, il marchio è inscindibile dal format': la Rai presenta il ricorso contro la sentenza del Tar della Liguria". FQ Magazine (in Italian). 4 February 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
- ^ a b Biondi, Andrea; Prisco, Francesco (29 May 2025). "Sanremo, Consiglio di Stato respinge gli appelli: finisce l'era dell'affidamento diretto a Rai". Il Sole 24 Ore (in Italian). Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ Meo, Oriana (9 April 2025). "Sanremo 2026 chi trasmetterà il Festival? Pubblicato il bando". All Music Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ "Sanremo: Rai unica candidata per il Festival, Mediaset e Discovery non aderiscono a bando". RaiNews (in Italian). RAI. 19 May 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ^ "Carlo Conti alla guida di Sanremo per i prossimi due anni" (in Italian). ANSA. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ Farren, Neil (22 May 2024). "Italy: Carlo Conti New Host & Artistic Director of Festival di Sanremo". Eurovoix. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ "Sanremo, diretta conferenza stampa chiusura. Carlo Conti nel 2026? «Sarò di sicuro il direttore artistico, penso anche il conduttore. Il mio Festival è baudiano»". Il Messaggero (in Italian). 16 February 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.