Italian national broadcaster RAI and artistic director Stefano De Martino target global pop star Dua Lipa to co-host Sanremo 2027.
Although there is still time until the 2027 edition of Italy’s Eurovision selection, Sanremo Festival, rumors surrounding the event are already reaching a peak. Reports indicate that the new artistic director of the festival, Stefano De Martino, holds a major ace up his sleeve as part of his goal to internationalize the competition: global pop star Dua Lipa is reportedly targeted as the next guest host for Italy’s biggest music event.
De Martino’s International Vision
It has long been clear that De Martino aims to transform Sanremo into a more glitzy, international showcase than ever before. To achieve this vision, he is wasting no time: he is spending the current summer in Los Angeles, working alongside music consultant Fabrizio Ferraguzzo – the man behind the global breakthrough of Eurovision 2021 winners Måneskin – on song selection and entry submissions for the 2027 competition.
Following these extensive preparations and the duo’s connections with international producers, it comes as no surprise that new reports from news agency Adnkronos point to Dua Lipa as one of the primary global figures De Martino is building on.
The Italian Connection and Return to the Ariston
Dua Lipa maintains strong ties to Italy, having even chosen to marry her fiance, English actor Callum Turner, in the city of Palermo. According to reports, negotiations with the singer are already at a very advanced stage.
Furthermore, Dua Lipa is well acquainted with the Sanremo stage, having appeared as a guest performer at the festival in 2020. During that appearance, she performed her hit “Don’t Start Now” with a spectacular routine alongside eight dancers. The question now remains: will she appear on the grand final night?
At present, the Italian national broadcaster RAI and the festival production are keeping details under wraps. It remains unclear whether the push to recruit Dua Lipa for hosting duties focuses on a specific evening, though it is logical that for a star of her standing, the production would aim to feature her during the opening night or the grand final.
Another possibility being considered is incorporating her into the new “Performance Night,” which will be dedicated entirely to selecting Italy’s entry for Eurovision. Dua Lipa possesses relevant experience in this arena, having been involved alongside her management firm, Tap Music, in selecting the UK representative for the BBC in 2022. The main hurdle remains coordinating with the singer’s demanding schedule.
Additional Names in the Rumor Mill
The festival will take place in six months, broadcasting from the Ariston Theatre between February 16th and 20th. Because De Martino received his official appointment immediately after Sanremo 2026, he was able to begin preparations earlier than usual, accelerating the traditional wave of casting leaks. Over recent weeks, rumors have emerged regarding other names slated to co-host the event:
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Brenda Lodigiani: De Martino’s former co-star on “Stasera tutto è possibile” (in English: “Everything is Possible Tonight”) on Rai2. According to reports, her participation is considered virtually locked in; however, rather than hosting a single evening, the plan is to integrate her into comedy segments throughout all nights of the festival.
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Maria De Filippi: A potential return to the Ariston stage as a single-night co-host. This move carries significant symbolic value and represents a full-circle moment, as De Martino took his first steps on television in 2009 on “Amici”, the talent show hosted by De Filippi, with their professional connection remaining strong ever since.
The New Format: A Week of Broadcasts with Two Winners
The artistic director and host of the 77th edition of the Sanremo Festival, Stefano De Martino, revealed the official dates of the competition on his Instagram account. According to the publication, the festival will take place between February 16th and February 20th, 2027, and will include five consecutive competition nights.
“My Sanremo will take a more international direction,” Stefano De Martino declares with confidence, detailing the order of the week:
- Tuesday and Wednesday: All artists will perform their songs for the first time.
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Thursday: The beloved “Covers Night”, which moves specifically to the middle of the week.
- Friday – Eurovision Night: The most dramatic night. “This will be the night when the act that will represent us at Eurovision will be determined,” he reveals. “Artists will have the opportunity to bring a special performance to the stage according to their creative vision. I think this is a significant step that brings the festival closer to the international standard.”
- Saturday – Festival Final: The night when the official winner of the traditional festival will be determined.
This means there will be a “contest within a contest” – one winner of the Sanremo Festival, and another winner who will be sent directly to Eurovision, unless the same artist is chosen in both votes. Although De Martino admits that the exact voting mechanism for the Eurovision night has not yet been determined, this move is intended to allow megastars and major record labels to participate in the competition and target the European market directly, without the pressure of winning the traditional festival.
Italy at Eurovision 2026
“Per sempre sì” (in English: “Forever Yes”) is the song that was performed by Sal Da Vinci, who represented Italy, and finished in 5th place with 281 points in the Grand Final of Eurovision 2026 on May 16th, in Vienna, Austria. The song was written and composed by Sal Da Vinci himself together with Alessandro La Cava, Eugenio Maimone, Federica Abbate, Federico Mercuri, Francesco Sorrentino, and Giordano Cremona. The song is performed entirely in Italian.
Eurovision 2027: This will be Italy’s 52nd participation in Eurovision. Italy joined the contest in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won three times over the years. Italy’s most recent victory was at Eurovision 2021 with the song “Zitti e buoni” performed by the band Måneskin.
