Rai has announced the 15 artists who have passed the first live auditions of Sanremo Giovani 2026. Among those moving forward are X Factor winner rob, former Amici contestants and several artists who have already competed in Sanremo Giovani.
The 15 artists selected
The auditions took place on Monday, October 26, at Sala A in Via Asiago, Rome. The Musical Commission, chaired by Artistic Director Stefano De Martino, selected the following artists to continue in the competition:
| Artist | Song |
| Albe | Vuoi o non vuoi |
| Basim | Distanza |
| Dubrazil | Por Favor |
| Florinda | Senza ‘E Te |
| frambo | NON DISTURBARE |
| Gallas | Fermo |
| Lea Gavino | L’ennesima canzone |
| Les Votives | NON IMPORTA |
| Neartica | Foto mossa |
| OCCHI | La guerra dei bottoni |
| Petit | SEI TU |
| Plasma | ENERGIA MECCANICA |
| rob | NON IMPARO MAI |
| Santamarea | Tutto questo mare dentro |
| Selma | Io sognerò |
Several of the 15 have already appeared on Italian television talent shows. rob, whose real name is Roberta Scandurra, won X Factor Italia in 2025 under the mentorship of Paola Iezzi. She is joined by Les Votives, who finished second in the 2024 edition of the show, and Plasma, who has competed in both X Factor and Amici. Albe and Petit also have Amici experience, having taken part in the show’s 21st and 23rd editions respectively.
There are also artists returning to Sanremo Giovani after previous attempts. Lea Gavino, OCCHI and Petit competed in the 2025 edition. Elsewhere, Dubrazil previously appeared on Netflix’s rap competition Nuova Scena, while Santamarea won Musicultura in 2023.
What happens next?
The 15 artists selected in Rome will now join another 15 performers chosen through Area Sanremo. The two groups will then take part in the next phase of auditions in Sanremo during November, with Stefano De Martino attending.
From the combined group of 30 artists, the Musical Commission will select six finalists: three from Sanremo Giovani and three from Area Sanremo. They will compete in Sarà Sanremo, which will air in prime time on Rai 1 on Friday, December 11, from the Teatro del Casinò in Sanremo. The final will have just one winner, who will earn a place in the Campioni category at Sanremo 2027.
The Musical Commission is chaired by Stefano De Martino and also includes singer Noemi, writer and presenter Fabio Volo, music journalist Carlo Pastore, musician Pino Perris, radio and television presenter Ema Stokholma, and Rai executive Claudio Fasulo.
Italy’s Eurovision journey
Italy has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since the very beginning and have always been considered a powerhouse in the contest. The country has won the contest on three occasions in 1964, 1990 and 2021. Italy withdrew after 1997, returning again in 2011 with Raphael Gualazzi who sang ‘Madness Of Love’. Raphael placed second in the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest after scoring 189 points.
Italy’s renowned Festival di Sanremo is, in many ways, the original Eurovision – the contest we know and love was modelled after it, after all! First broadcast in 1951, it is the longest-running annual TV music competition in the world. Sanremo was developed as a way to revitalize the city of Sanremo’s economy and reputation after the Second World War, and has since split into two smaller contests: the “Big Artists” section, whose winner gets first refusal to represent Italy in Eurovision, and the “Newcomers” section, first included in 1984. Scores are determined through public voting and two groups of juries, and the festival takes place across five nights. Changes to the show often happen year on year, and the winner of the festival does not always go on to represent Italy at Eurovision, as was the case in 2025.
Italy’s most recent Eurovision entry in 2026 was “Per sempre sì” by Sal da Vinci, who won the 2026 edition of Festival di Sanremo. Italy does not compete in the semi-finals and has a secured spot in the Grand Final of the contest. At the close of voting in the Grand Final of Eurovision 2026, Italy scored a total of 281 points, placing 5th. Of these, 134 points came from the juries, whilst the remaining 147 points came from the televote.
Which of the 15 artists are you most looking forward to hearing at the next stage? As always, please let us know what you think by getting involved in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads, tumblr, Bluesky, and ZOOP for more information about Eurovision 2027!
News Source: Rai
Image Credits: Dubrazil, Les Votives, SKY Italia. Collage by That Eurovision Site
Rory Gannon 
Cameron Merrill