The official Eurovision Song Contest website has revealed today that RAI, the Italian national broadcaster will select their representative from the 2013 San Remo Festival participants, following the same method from previous years.

A special RAI Committee will select and announce the 2013 Italian Eurovision representative on 16 February during the 2013 San Remo Song Festival final. The 2013 Italian Eurovision entry will be revealed at a later date. The 63rd edition of Festival di San Remo is scheduled to be held at the Ariston Theatre, San Remo from 12 February- 16 February.  Fabio Fazio and Luciana Littizzetto will have the honour of hosting the famous Italian festival.

Who will represent Italy at the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö?

In 2011 the Italian representative Raphael Gualazzi  was selected from the Giovani category whilst in 2012 Nina Zilli was selected from the Campioni category. The 2013 Italian Eurovision representative could be chosen from any of the 2 categories. The 2011 Italian representative is back in the competition this year.

Campioni Category (established artists):

lmamegretta, Annalisa, Chiara, Daniele Silvestri, Elio e le storie tese, Malika Ayane, Marco Mengoni, Maria Nazionale, Marta sui tubi, Max Gazze’, Modà, Raphael Gualazzi, Simona Molinari & Peter Cincotti and Simone Cristicchi.

Giovani Category (newcomers):

Andrea Nardinocchi, Antonio Maggio, Blastema, Ilaria Porceddu, Il Cile, Irene Ghiotto, Paolo Simoni and Renzo Rubino.

Italy debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest  in 1956 and was one of the founder members of the contest. The country has won the event 2 times in 1964 and 1990. Italy withdrew from the event in 1998 and returned back in 2011.

Stay tuned to Esctoday.com for the latest information on Italy and the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest.

Cover Photograph: eurovision.tv