Sanremo 2027 Festival scheduled for Feb 16‑20 to avoid Coppa Italia clash

Rai announced that the 2027 edition of the Sanremo Music Festival will be broadcast live on Rai 1 from 16 to 20 February. The dates were revealed by the new host and artistic director Stefano De Martino on Instagram and explained by Rai entertainment deputy director Claudio Fasulo as a collective decision involving prime‑time, marketing, distribution and the municipality of Sanremo.

The scheduling aims to protect the festival’s audience by placing it after Mediaset’s Coppa Italia quarter‑finals and before the European club competition playoffs, which will be shown on pay‑TV platforms. Carlo Conti, former Sanremo presenter, said De Martino “doesn’t need advice or blessings” and praised his team’s ability to bring fresh ideas to the event.

The move highlights Rai’s strategy to maximise viewership for Italy’s most important music competition while avoiding direct competition with major football broadcasts.