ITALY – Sanremo Festival artistic director, Amadeus, presented to the public the changes in the format of the show, applied as of 2020. It was clear that when Mahmood won as part of the established artists, although he was a newcomer artist, made a fuzz.
Newcomer artists will compete separately during the Sanremo Festival nights and the winner will not be included in the established finalists.
There will be 20 established and 8 newcomer artists.
The festival will be formatted within five nights as follow: First night with 10 established artists and 4 newcomers from which two will be eliminated.
In the second night the next ten established artists will perform as well as the next four newcomers from which two will be eliminated.
In the third night we will listen cover versions of popular and hit songs from the festival’s 70 year history by the established artists. The semi final for newcomers will take place and therefore two of them will qualify to the final.
In the fourth night the 20 established artists perform their Sanremo Fstival 2020 entry. Also the final of newcomers will declare the winer.
In the fifth night the established artists will perform again their 2020 entries. Three will be announced for the super final and the voting for them will begin from scratch.
No details given yet for the voting format of the show but we do expect changes.
On December 17th we will find out the 20 established participants. The 8 newcomers will be chosen through SanrmoArea Academy (2), public invitation (5), Sanremo Young (1) and we will know them as well on December 17th through special televised show.
RAI has not confirmed how the Eurovision entrant and entry will be chosen but up to know the usual recipe is to ask the winner if he wishes to d the job and the consolidate with artist’s team about the song (keeping it or changing it).