The 76th edition of the San Remo Music Festival is set to take place from 24 to 28 February 2026 at the iconic Teatro Ariston in Sanremo on the Italian Riviera. This annual event remains a cornerstone of Italian music culture, blending tradition, contemporary creativity and national pride.
Credit: SanremoDaily
A Festival Defined by Heritage and Innovation
First held in 1951, the Festival della Canzone Italiana di San Remo has become Italy’s most prestigious music competition, shaping the country’s popular music scene and inspiring international song festivals. The 2026 edition continues this legacy, bringing together established names and new voices in a week of performances, storytelling and spectacle.
Dates, Hosts and Format
San Remo 2026 will unfold over five nights from Tuesday 24 February to Saturday 28 February 2026 at the historic Ariston Theatre. Carlo Conti returns as both artistic director and lead host, flanked every night by the world-star Laura Pausini, marking her first year as a permanent co-host for the festival.
The programme maintains the classic San Remo structure:
- 30 big artists compete with new original songs.
- 4 artists in the “Nuove Proposte” (New Voices) category showcase emerging talent.
Voting combines public tele-voting, press and radio juries to determine rankings each night and the overall winner.
Alongside the main shows, the PrimaFestival preview series and DopoFestival talk-show segments offer deeper engagement with artists and audiences throughout the week.
Lineup and Songs
The official lineup of competing artists was announced at the end of November 2025, featuring a diverse mix of established stars, genre-defining artists and contemporary talents. Confirmed performers include names such as Tommaso Paradiso, Arisa, Fedez with Marco Masini, Patty Pravo, Levante, Luchè, Malika Ayane, Francesco Renga, Ditonellapiaga, Ermal Meta, Leo Gassmann, Fulminacci, Nayt and more.
Cultural Impact
San Remo Festival is more than a music competition. It is a national cultural moment and Italy’s most important television event of the year, regularly achieving exceptional audience share and dominating prime time for five consecutive nights. During the Festival week, all major television networks, radio broadcasters, record labels, artists, journalists and music industry professionals converge on Sanremo, turning the city into the undisputed centre of Italian media and entertainment.
This extraordinary exposure generates a powerful economic impact each February. Restaurants, hotels, shops and entertainment venues throughout San Remo and the wider Ligurian Riviera benefit from the constant flow of visitors, live broadcasts, press coverage and international attention that only the Festival can command.
Experience San Remo with LiguriaHomes Casamare & Hamptons
As long-established professionals deeply rooted in Sanremo, LiguriaHomes Casamare & Hamptons invites you to experience the city during one of its most iconic moments of the year. Our San Remo real estate agency, conveniently located close to the Teatro Ariston, remains open throughout the Festival period to assist visitors and property seekers alike.
Whether you are drawn to Sanremo for its music, its refined coastal lifestyle, or the prospect of owning a home on the Italian Riviera, our local team is available to guide you through the opportunities this remarkable destination offers.
To learn more about living in San Remo and to explore selected properties, visit
https://www.liguriahomes.com
