The countdown has officially begun for the 76th edition of the Festival di Sanremo, one of Italy’s most iconic music events, set to take place from February 24 to 28 at the historic Teatro Ariston, in the heart of the Ligurian Riviera.

This year’s festival marks the final artistic direction of Carlo Conti, a familiar face of Italian television, who will be joined each evening by international superstar Laura Pausini alongside a rotating cast of co-hosts. Thirty competing artists will battle for the title, turning Sanremo into not just a music contest, but a major television spectacle watched by audiences both in Italy and abroad.

Early predictions from critics and bookmakers favored Tommaso Paradiso, the Roman songwriter beloved by younger listeners and appreciated by traditional fans alike. However, in recent weeks, Serena Brancale has surged to the top of the betting charts. The Apulian-born singer is competing with an emotional song dedicated to her mother and is currently considered the outright favorite by major Italian bookmakers.

Another highly anticipated entry is the artistic duo formed by Fedez and Marco Masini, who return to Sanremo with the song Male Necessario, widely regarded as a critical safe bet.

Several other artists could play a decisive role in the final, broadcast live on Rai 1 on Saturday, February 28. Among them are Arisa, Ditonellapiaga, Fulminacci and Ermal Meta.

The festival also features three so-called “sons of art”: Tredici Pietro, son of Gianni Morandi; LDA, son of Gigi D’Alessio; and Leo Gassmann, son of actor Alessandro Gassmann. Among them, only Tredici Pietro appears to have a realistic chance of impacting the final standings.