Sanremo

The Italian Song Festival, known as the Sanremo Music Festival or simply Sanremo, is a music festival held every year in Italy, in Sanremo, since 1951.

Since 1977 it has been held at the Teatro Ariston: it is a song contest in which pop music performers take part, presenting brand-new songs by Italian songwriters, on pain of exclusion from the competition. Panels of experts and the public vote decide the winner of each edition.

Besides awarding the winner of the song contest, since 1984 the Festival has also awarded the winning song among the "New Proposals" (or Newcomers). Other prizes are given to competing artists in both categories, such as the Mia Martini Award (the critics' award named after the singer who was the first to win it in 1982), the Volare Award (named after the Domenico Modugno song written by Franco Migliacci that won in 1958, honoring the best lyrics) and prizes from various side competitions. During the Sanremo Festival, some "lifetime achievement" awards are also given to figures from the entertainment world, whether competing or invited for the occasion.

The early editions of the Festival were broadcast on the radio and held at the Casinò di Sanremo. Since 1977 the contest has been held at the Teatro Ariston, becoming a television event broadcast across Eurovision by Raiuno, the main channel of Italian public TV.

The format of the contest has changed over the years, but the Festival regularly stirs up debates and controversies that give the song contest national and international media resonance.

Over the years, a succession of hosts has taken the stage, accompanied by co-hosts or sidekicks. The record for most appearances as host belongs to Pippo Baudo, with 13, followed by Mike Bongiorno with 11, and Nunzio Filogamo, who hosted the event 5 times. Gabriella Farinon holds the record among female hosts, with 3 editions.

Many of the best-known figures in Italian music have taken part as contestants, guests or songwriters. It is considered one of the most important and longest-running music festivals in the world. It stands as one of Italy's major media events, with some resonance abroad as well, since it is broadcast live both on television, via Eurovision, and on radio. The Leone di Sanremo statuette (a symbol drawn from the town's coat of arms) is the most prestigious award for Italian pop musicians and performers.

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