Sanremo Music Festival

The 2027 Sanremo Festival

The 77th edition of the Festival will take place from 16 to 20 February 2027. On 6 June 2026 it was announced that Stefano De Martino would be the host and artistic director. The names of the competing singers are usually announced between the end of the year and early January.

The 2026 edition, the 76th, was held from 24 to 28 February 2026, hosted by Carlo Conti, and was won by Sal Da Vinci with the song “Per sempre sì”.

Where the Festival takes place

Experiencing Festival week

Even without a ticket for the Ariston, Festival week is an experience: the town is full of free events, meet-and-greets with the artists and parties. Here is how to plan.

• Tickets: seats at the Ariston are few and in high demand. Sales arrangements and dates are announced each year through the official channels of the theatre and Rai: beware of unauthorised resellers.
• Where to stay: hotels in the centre sell out months in advance. Book as soon as the dates are announced, or look in Bordighera, Ospedaletti or Arma di Taggia, which are connected by train.
• Getting around: the centre is closed to traffic and many car parks are not available. Arrive by train or leave your car away from the centre, and check the guide to parking in Sanremo.
• Restaurants: always book on Festival evenings; many places show the live broadcast.
• Weather: in February Sanremo is mild, averaging around 10 degrees, but evenings are cool: bring a jacket.

Bordighera is 8–10 minutes from Sanremo by train, or about 25 by bus (line 2): to find a room during the Festival see where to stay in Bordighera.

A little history

The first Festival was held in January 1951 at the Casino, with only three singers competing; Nilla Pizzi won with “Grazie dei fiori”. Over the years the Festival has become the most important event in Italian music and the most watched TV programme of the year. The winner has the chance to represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Sanremo is linked to music outside February too: in summer “Sanremo Estate”, the summer version of the Festival, is broadcast on Rai1, and the Premio Tenco brings singer-songwriters to the Ariston. A Museum of Italian Song is planned in Palazzo Borea d’Olmo.

Sightseeing in Sanremo beyond the Festival

Between evenings, make the most of the daytime to discover the town: La Pigna and the Santuario della Madonna della Costa, the Russian Church, the Casino, the Passeggiata Imperatrice and Villa Nobel. All the places to visit are in the guide to Sanremo.