The Sanremo Music Festival is without question one of the most hyped national selections out there. The long-lasting Italian music festival, which is also the basis of Eurovision, will turn 68 in just a few days. On February 6, RAI 1 will kick off the 2018 edition and welcome its 20 stars – who carry heavyweight reputations and some proper musical talent. No amateurs here, darling.

Keep your eyes open, since the winner will most likely represent Italy in Lisbon this May. Yes, most likely: for according to the rules, the winner has to accept the opportunity to fly the Italian flag in Portugal. In the event he or she doesn’t, RAI will then select another representative from among the remaining 19 acts.

Two weeks separate us from the final, and the bookmakers have already started to predict the final podium finish, declaring the duo made by Ermal Meta and Fabrizio Moro the favourite to win it all.

Sanremo 1996 winner Ron and crooner Mario Biondi are currently down as second and third most-likely to win. Max Gazzè and Noemi complete the predicted Top 5.

And let us not forget four artists seeking to make a Eurovision comeback: Riccardo Fogli, Luca BarbarossaEnrico Ruggeri (leader of the band Decibel) and Nina Zilli. They represented Italy in the contest respectively in Munich in 1983, in Dublin in 1988, in Millstreet in 1993 and in Baku in 2012.

READ MORE ABOUT ALL 20 ARTISTS AND THEIR SONGS BY CLICKING HERE

WHICH SANREMO 2018 ACT YOU ARE MOST EXCITED ABOUT?

So, which of the twenty artists tops your list? You can vote for as many singers as you’d like, but you can only cast your votes ONE time. Be sure to click the box next to each act you want to support before pressing submit. Then sound off in our comments section below.

[polldaddy poll=9914189]

READ MORE ITALY EUROVISION NEWS

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Ira
Ira
6 years ago

Ermal Meta definitely! United with Fabrizio Moro, I would expect nothing but a masterpiece !
Ermal will make albanians and italians both proud

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

Really looking forward to Annalisa and of course the Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro duet!
Hope for many good songs in Sanremo again this year!

Mr. Abbott
Mr. Abbott
6 years ago

Last year my favourites were Ermal Meta and Fiorella Manoia, their songs had a very powerful message (and sadly won Francesco Gabbani and his parodia)… but this year I don’t think Ermal will bring another masterpiece as Vietato Morire. So… If I have to choose I will say Annalisa.

Mr Häggkvist
Mr Häggkvist
6 years ago

I would love to see Giovanni Caccamo, Annalisa or Noemi in Lisbon… Nina Zilli had already her chance, i really want to see any of those three in Eurovision!!!

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

Y’all I’m from Italy and the only act I care about among those is Elio e le Storie Tese. But I fear their humor won’t be understood by an international audience.

Ösi
Ösi
6 years ago

Omg Ermal Meta and Fabrizzio Moro are a clash of titans!
If Vietato morire had gone to Esc last year we would be celebrating Roma 2018 and not Lissabon. Nevertheless its gonna be Roma 2019 ???

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Ösi

It’s never gonna be Rome because RAI wants to host in Turin. And nothing was going to beat Sally Sobral, not even Britain sending Adele.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

yaaaas Torino please!

Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga
6 years ago

One of the contests to watch out for as they consistently have quality winners. Since they came back to Eurovision, they have mostly been successful, particularly the winners of San Remo (specially those that weren’t internally selected). Other big 5 countries should look to this model: do not choose a song that was made for Eurovision or what you think Eurovision would want, but rather choose a song that resonates well with your local public sung by a credible artist. This brings a very Italian feel for the entry, and I guess that’s their secret ingredient in doing so well… Read more »

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Lady Gaga

The international audience seems to love our stale music that only old people care about, so this lineup is PERFECT for Eurovision in a reverse Warholian expedition sense!

jim
jim
6 years ago

noemi has a great voice and a long list of quality songs

Mandy
Mandy
6 years ago

I’d like to see a great iconic Italian singer winning Sanremo this year, specially the duet Facchinetti-Fogli, just to decline the rights to go to Lisbon, giving a chance for the runner-up (I hope it’ll be Ermal Meta or Noemi) As the same way it happened in 2016. Let’s put the preseason on fire!

b00nika
b00nika
6 years ago

Ermal & Fabrizio and Max Gazzè, even if I don’t think the latter would compete in Eurovision. But who knows!

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

Giovanni
Fabrizo & Ermal

esc_latvia
esc_latvia
6 years ago

I would really like to see Nina Zilli on the ESC stage once again, really loved her 2012 entry. Fingers crossed she wins. ??

Mirko
Mirko
6 years ago

Mario Biondi, which is a great choice for Eurovision (’cause he know english so well and he is full of charisma), and Le Vibrazioni (returning back after 4 years of solo activity by Francesco Sarcina).

Matt
Matt
6 years ago

I’m not familiar with most of the artists competing, but I did love Nina Zilli in 2013, and the few other songs I’ve heard from her she has a great quality in her voice, so i’m super excited for her.

Milan S.
Milan S.
6 years ago

This tops the list of polls about nothing.

Ösi
Ösi
6 years ago
Reply to  Milan S.

Shut up loser!

Darius
Darius
6 years ago

I have no idea who Annalisa is, and why an Earth does she have 80 votes (the most, so far) in this poll….

joff
joff
6 years ago
Reply to  Darius

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7RMdYAXxN8 She is Annalisa with her last single !

mad-professor
mad-professor
6 years ago
Reply to  Darius

She competed at Sanremo in 2015 and 2016.

Mark
Mark
6 years ago

I’ve only followed Sanremo last year. I am a little upset there isn’t more returning artist from last year.

It’s similar to how there are very few returning artists in Melodifestivalen this year.

chessguy99
6 years ago
Reply to  Mark

There rarely is. Most artists are there to launch a new album, and it is rare for Italian artists to put out a new album every year.