Eurovision News 
Italy 
RAI, the Italian national broadcaster, has announced a significant change to the format of Sanremo Giovani for the 2027 edition. The winner of the upcoming Sanremo Giovani competition will secure a coveted spot among the ‘Campioni’ (established artists) in the main Sanremo Song Festival 2027. This marks a new direction for the popular youth selection.
A new path to the Ariston stage
The new regulation for Sanremo Giovani 2026, which will be available online from Friday, August 7, introduces a revised mechanism for selecting emerging talent. Unlike previous editions where multiple artists could advance, a single winner will now be proclaimed at the end of the selection process. This victorious artist will earn direct entry into the prestigious ‘Campioni’ category of the Sanremo Song Festival 2027, slated to run from February 16 to 20.
The project, overseen by Artistic Director Stefano De Martino and RAI’s Prime Time Entertainment Directorate, aims to foster new voices in Italian music through a more competitive and rigorous selection process. The Sanremo Giovani final is scheduled for December 18, broadcast live on Rai 1 from the Sanremo Casino.
The selection journey
The initial phase involves the Musical Commission listening to all submitted entries. From these, 60 artists will be selected to participate in live auditions. Following these auditions, 15 artists from Sanremo Giovani will be chosen, who will then be joined by 15 artists from Area Sanremo, forming a group of 30 young talents.
The journey continues with a new series of live selections held in Sanremo over two weekends, with Stefano De Martino present. From these auditions, six finalists will emerge: three from the Sanremo Giovani path and three from Area Sanremo. Before the grand finale, these six finalists will receive significant exposure, performing in a prime-time show on Rai 1 to introduce their music to a wider audience.
The 2027 Italian Eurovision act and entry will be determined via the Sanremo Song Festival, namely on the fourth night of the competition.
