The 76th edition of the Sanremo Music Festival is set to take place from February 24 to 28, 2026, at the historic Teatro Ariston in Sanremo. The festival, a cornerstone of Italian music and culture, will be broadcast live on Rai1, streamed on RaiPlay, and covered on Rai Radio2, while the city itself will come alive with concerts and events through the “Tra palco e città” initiative, bringing the festival experience beyond the theater walls.
Hosts and Co-Hosts
Once again, Carlo Conti returns as the festival’s artistic director and main host, joined on stage every evening by singer Laura Pausini. Each night, they are supported by a rotating lineup of co-hosts, adding variety and star power to the show.
- Tuesday, Feb 24: Can Yaman
- Wednesday, Feb 25: Pilar Fogliati, Achille Lauro, and Lillo
- Thursday, Feb 26: Irina Shayk and Ubaldo Pantani
- Friday, Feb 27: Bianca Balti
- Saturday, Feb 28: Giorgia Cardinaletti and Nino Frassica
Key Musical Guests
Sanremo is renowned not only for its competition but also for its lineup of international and Italian music stars. Several artists will perform on the Ariston stage, while others will appear in city events or on a ship docked off the coast.
- Opening night: Tiziano Ferro
- Thursday: Eros Ramazzotti and Alicia Keys (duet on L’Aurora), Fabio De Luigi, Virginia Raffaele
- Final night: Andrea Bocelli
- Every evening: Max Pezzali performing from the ship, joined by Olly on the first night
- Career achievement awards: Fausto Leali, Mogol, and Caterina Caselli
The Five Nights of Competition
Opening Night – Tuesday, February 24
The festival kicks off with all 30 “Big” artists performing. The Press, TV, and Web Jury will cast the first votes, revealing the top five songs in no particular order.
Highlights:
- All 30 Big artists perform
- Special guest: Tiziano Ferro
- Piazza Colombo: Gaia
- Ship performance: Max Pezzali with Olly
Second Night – Wednesday, February 25
Wednesday focuses on the emerging talents, the Nuove Proposte, with two head-to-head challenges among four artists. Fifteen Big artists also perform, and their ranking combines televoting and the Radio Jury.
Highlights:
- 15 Big artists perform
- Nuove Proposte battles; two winners advance to the final
- Co-hosts: Pilar Fogliati, Achille Lauro, Lillo
- Special guests: Eros Ramazzotti and Alicia Keys
- Piazza Colombo: Bresh
Third Night – Thursday, February 26
The remaining 15 Big artists take the stage, and the winner of the Nuove Proposte category is announced. The night promises surprises and star appearances, co-hosted by model Irina Shayk and comedian Ubaldo Pantani.
Highlights:
- Remaining 15 Big perform
- Nuove Proposte winner announced
- Special guests: Fabio De Luigi, Virginia Raffaele
- Piazza Colombo: The Kolors
Fourth Night – Friday, February 27 (Duets and Covers)
The most anticipated evening of the festival is dedicated to duets and cover songs, where each Big artist teams up with an Italian or international guest to reinterpret classic hits. This night awards a standalone winner but does not affect the final competition ranking.
- Arisa with the Teatro Regio di Parma Choir – Quello che le donne non dicono
- Bambole di Pezza with Cristina D’Avena – Occhi di gatto
- Chiello with Saverio Cigarini – Mi sono innamorato di te
- Dargen D’Amico with Pupo and Fabrizio Bosso – Su di noi
- Ditonellapiaga with TonyPitony – The Lady Is a Tramp
- Eddie Brock with Fabrizio Moro – Portami via
- Elettra Lamborghini with Las Ketchup – Aserejé
- Enrico Nigiotti with Alfa – En e Xanax
- Ermal Meta with Dardust – Golden Hour
- Fedez & Masini with Stjepan Hauser – Meravigliosa creatura
- Francesco Renga with Giusy Ferreri – Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola
- Fulminacci with Francesca Fagnani – Parole parole
- J-Ax with Ligera County Fam – E la vita, la vita
- LDA & Aka7even with Tullio De Piscopo – Andamento lento
- Leo Gassmann with Aiello – Era già tutto previsto
- Levante with Gaia – I maschi
- Luchè with Gianluca Grignani – Falco a metà
- Malika Ayane with Claudio Santamaria – Mi sei scoppiato dentro il cuore
- Mara Sattei with Mecna – L’ultimo bacio
- Maria Antonietta & Colombre with Brunori Sas – Il mondo
- Michele Bravi with Fiorella Mannoia – Domani è un altro giorno
- Nayt with Joan Thiele – La canzone dell’amore perduto
- Patty Pravo with Timofej Andrijashenko – Ti lascio una canzone
- Raf with The Kolors – The Riddle
- Sal Da Vinci with Michele Zarrillo – Cinque giorni
- Samurai Jay with Belén Rodríguez and Roy Paci – Baila Morena
- Sayf with Alex Britti and Mario Biondi – Hit the Road Jack
- Serena Brancale with Gregory Porter and Delia – Besame Mucho
- Tommaso Paradiso with Stadio – L’ultima luna
- Tredici Pietro with Galeffi, Fudasca & Band – Vita
Final Night – Saturday, February 28
The festival closes with all 30 Big artists performing once more. The winner is decided through a combination of Televote, Press, TV & Web Jury, and Radio Jury, with the top five songs undergoing a final vote to determine the champion.
Highlights:
- All 30 Big perform
- Co-hosts: Giorgia Cardinaletti and Nino Frassica
- Special guest: Andrea Bocelli
- Piazza Colombo: Pooh
- Ship performance: Max Pezzali
Emerging Artists
Four Nuove Proposte compete this year, two from Sanremo Giovani 2025 and two from Area Sanremo.
- Angelica Bove
- Nicolò Filippucci
- Blind, El Ma & Soniko
- Mazzariello
Gianluca Gazzoli will co-host the Nuove Proposte segments alongside Carlo Conti.
City Stage – Suzuki Stage
Parallel performances will take place at Piazza Colombo every evening, connecting the city with the Ariston stage:
- Tuesday: Gaia
- Wednesday: Bresh
- Thursday: The Kolors
- Friday: Francesco Gabbani
- Saturday: Pooh
Ancillary Shows
- DopoFestival (Feb 24–27): hosted by Nicola Savino with Aurora Leone, Federico Basso, and Enrico Cremonesi
- PrimaFestival (from Feb 21): hosted by Ema Stokholma, Manola Moslehi, and Carolina Rey
With a mix of tradition, contemporary flair, and international appeal, Sanremo 2026 promises to be another landmark edition of Italy’s most celebrated music festival, blending competition, spectacle, and cultural showcase in one unforgettable week.