The 77th Festival di Sanremo has its rules. Stefano De Martino, host and artistic director of the 2027 edition, presented them today in Milan together with Claudio Fasulo, Rai’s deputy director of Prime Time Entertainment. The Festival will air on Rai 1 from 16 to 20 February 2027, from the Teatro Ariston in Sanremo.
The Big artists in competition
There will be 24 singers in competition, in a single category. De Martino confirmed the number despite rumours of a larger cast. The 24 will also include the winner of Sarà Sanremo, airing on 18 December 2026: this year the young artists’ selection brings together three artists from Area Sanremo and three from Sanremo Giovani, presented in prime time on Rai 1.
What is new in the rules
- The Performance: on Friday 19 February the artists will present their song with interpretative, musical or staging approaches different from those of the other days. The vote is shared between the public and a new international jury of experts; the winner will represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 2027.
- Artificial intelligence: lyrics and music must be the product of human creativity; the use of AI systems that replace or alter the creative contribution of songwriters and artists is not allowed.
- Length: a maximum of 3 minutes 30 seconds for competing songs, 4 minutes for covers.
- Online voting: alongside the televote, voting on the RaiPlay app makes its debut, with a maximum of three votes per user; the two votes are added together for each artist.
- Covers: Thursday is still devoted to duets on the Italian and international repertoire, with a separate ranking that does not count towards the final result.
Upcoming deadlines
- 23 November 2026: deadline for submissions.
- From 29 November 2026: announcement of the Big artists in competition.
- 18 December 2026: Sarà Sanremo.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Sanremo winner go to Eurovision?
Under the new rules, Italy will be represented at Eurovision 2027 by the winner of Friday’s Performance round, judged by the public and the international jury.
When will the competing singers be known?
The Big artists may be announced from 29 November 2026.
Where can I find concerts by the Sanremo artists?
In the Events section of Nightify you will find upcoming tours and live shows.