Sanremo 2027: Italian reports reveal an extraordinary historic change set to reshape the Eurovision selection process. What is the surprising move designed to attract superstars to the festival?

Intriguing and unexpected reports have emerged about potential structural changes to the beloved Italian music festival Sanremo. According to recent leaks, major Italian record labels, in collaboration with the Italian national broadcaster RAI, are considering a significant transformation of the festival’s fourth evening—traditionally known as the “Covers Night.” The proposed change would see this evening dedicated entirely to selecting Italy’s representative for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest.

Revolution: Separate Winners For Eurovision and Sanremo

If implemented, this move would effectively decouple the winner of the Sanremo festival from the artist chosen to represent Italy on the international stage.

“They want to split Eurovision; they want two winners,” a source familiar with the details reveals. While not yet official, the possibility exists that Italy’s Eurovision representative could be chosen through a parallel competition for the first time in history. The current proposal involves shifting this “Eurovision Night” to Friday evening (the fourth night), which has traditionally been reserved for cover performances.

Staging the “Eurovision Cut”

According to the information circulating, the Italian national broadcaster RAI, alongside the new artistic director Stefano De Martino and major record labels, are reportedly supporting this initiative. The goal is to select both the artist and the song for the international contest during this specific night.

Under this proposed format, the competing artists would not rely on the standard, intimate performance style typically seen at the festival. Instead, they would be required to perform their Sanremo entries with a distinct “Eurovision twist.”

The objective is to present a stage vision tailored to the high-pressure standards of the international platform. This includes dynamic camera direction, a completely different stage setup, the inclusion of dancers, and the use of pyrotechnics and visual effects—elements that are often difficult to implement on the smaller Teatro Ariston stage compared to the massive Eurovision arena. The artist who succeeds in delivering the most complete “Eurovision-ready package” on that night would secure the ticket to represent Italy.

Attracting Top-Tier Artists

The proposed shift is viewed as a strategy to create “two winners” and incentivize more high-profile artists to participate in the festival. For instance, record labels may be more inclined to allow established stars like Annalisa to compete for the chance to represent Italy—a name often cited as an artist eager to expand her reach in the European market. Even if she were to miss out on winning the final night, she could still secure her spot at Eurovision by winning the fourth-night competition. Annalisa has participated in the festival six times previously: in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021, and 2024.

New Voting Academy for Sanremo

Additional reports in the Italian press mention a potential reduction in the number of media representatives involved in the voting process and the establishment of a new “Voting Academy,” composed of both journalists and music industry professionals.

However, it is crucial to emphasize that these reports remain unconfirmed. The validity of these claims will only be determined when Stefano De Martino releases the official Sanremo 2027 regulations in the coming months. Should these changes be implemented, they could pave the way for entries with a stronger Eurovision-oriented focus, while maintaining the historic link between the Sanremo festival and the Eurovision Song Contest.‏