Sanremo Festival 2026: Start and End Times Revealed
The 76th edition of the Sanremo Festival is set to take place at the Teatro Ariston from February 24 to February 28, 2026. The event will be directed artistically by Carlo Conti, marking his fifth year in this role. Laura Pausini will co-host all five evenings.
Schedule of Events
During the festival, 30 established artists will compete with original songs alongside four new talents. Two of the new acts will qualify through Sanremo Giovani, while the other two will emerge from Area Sanremo.
- February 24: Opening night featuring all 30 Big artists presenting their original songs at 20:40.
- February 25: The second evening will showcase the first 15 Big artists and the four new proposals, also starting at 20:40.
- February 26: The third evening will continue with the remaining 15 Big artists and the finalists from the New Proposals.
- February 27: A specialty night featuring cover songs and duets.
- February 28: The grand finale will conclude the festival.
Approximate Ending Times
Each night’s event will conclude at varying times:
- First night ends around 01:44.
- Second and third nights end approximately at 01:20.
- Finale and fourth night conclude shortly after 01:40.
Hosts and Special Guests
In addition to Carlo Conti, various co-hosts will join him throughout the festival. These include:
- Can Yaman (first night)
- Achille Lauro, Pilar Fogliati, and Lillo (second night)
- Irina Shayk and Ubaldo Pantani (third night)
- Giorgia Cardinaletti (finale)
Special guests will include renowned artists such as Tiziano Ferro, Eros Ramazzotti, Alicia Keys, Andrea Bocelli, and Max Pezzali, among others. They will perform on a ship moored off the coast of Sanremo.
After Festival Programming
The DopoFestival will air nightly from February 24 to February 27, starting around 01:30. Nicola Savino will lead the show, joined by Aurora Leone, Federico Basso, and Maestro Enrico Cremonesi. This segment aims to provide a humorous look at the festival with commentary from journalists and competing artists.
Additional Programming
From February 23 to March 1, a streaming series titled Sotto Sanremo will be available. This program will be hosted by Anna Lou Castoldi, Elisa Maino, and Nicole Rossi from an urban bunker underneath the Teatro Ariston. The series promises to share behind-the-scenes content and insights into the festival, using a format that resonates with Generation Z.
As anticipation builds, audiences are encouraged to tune into the Sanremo Festival 2026 for an unforgettable week of music and entertainment.
