San Marino’s public broadcaster has published the full list of 240 artists who have qualified for the Stage and Live Academy, an early phase of the country’s San Marino Song Contest 2026, the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna.
What Is the Stage and Live Academy?
This phase of the competition brings together hundreds of hopeful performers who have been accepted following an open call and initial applications. It is designed to evaluate live performance skills and artistry.
From the Stage & Live Academy participants:
- A selection of 40 artists will be chosen to compete in the two semi-finals of the San Marino Song Contest 2026.
- These semi-finals will take place in early March, offering the qualifiers a shot at progressing to the grand final.
- Ultimately, the final will be held on March 6.
Familiar Eurovision names among the auditions
While the big acts are still being kept under wraps, the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest auditions have already attracted several familiar faces from the Eurovision world. Among those taking part are Sheila, who finished third at the most recent edition of Festivali i Këngës, Maraaya, Slovenia’s representative at Eurovision 2015, and Viola Gjyzeli, who represented Albania at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023. The auditions have also featured Xannova Xan, who competed in last year’s Ethnikós Telikós but failed to advance in this year’s edition, as well as Magdalena Tul, Poland’s Eurovision 2011 entrant.
In addition, the final of the San Marino Song Contest will be hosted by Simona Ventura, one of Italy’s most recognisable television figures, and will take place on 6 March 2026 at the Teatro Nuovo in Dogana.
The winner will represent San Marino at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna.
San Marino’s Eurovision journey
As one of the smallest countries in Europe, San Marino made its debut in the competition in 2008 with Miodio and the song “Complice”. Since then, they have participated in the competition 14 times, qualifying for the grand final three times. Their best result was in 2019, with Serhat and “Say Na Na Na”.
Italian DJ Gabry Ponte represented San Marino in 2025 with his song “Tutta L’Italia” – the original theme song for Sanremo that year. Performing in the first semi-final, San Marino qualified for the final, where it ultimately placed last with 37 points. 28 points came from the juries, while 9 came from the televote.
Who do you think will represent San Marino in Vienna? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. And don’t forget to follow That Eurovision Site on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, Tumblr, and Bluesky for all the latest updates on Sanremo and Eurovision 2026!
News Source: RTV San Marino
Photo credit: Corinne Cumming / EBU
Euan T 
Famestar6