It’s the microstate that will be using a national final to select its act for Eurovision 2022. Now San Marino‘s broadcaster SMRTV has confirmed details of its new national final format Una voce per San Marino. And like the 2018 national final, there’s room for both local and international acts.

The broadcaster confirmed the details of its new national final today in a special presentation. The contest is open to both emerging artists and established artists, with a 50/50 split between the two groups. This is a similar format to that used by Sweden’s Melodifestivalen. These contestants can come from any country — San Marino or abroad.

Emerging artists will enter via the open application process. The broadcaster will hold two casting periods in December and January, where the emerging artist applicants will be assessed at live auditions.

From there, around 40 shortlisted emerging artists will compete in four semi-finals, a second chance round and a final, held at the Teatro Titano. The acts will perform a cover of a well known song and present their choice of unreleased song. The nine highest placed acts will qualify for the overall grand final. These shows will all be broadcast on SMRTV.

The acts in established artists category will not have to audition. Rather, nine artists will be invited by contest organisers to compete directly in the grand final.

The 18 finalists — nine emerging artists and nine established artists — will compete in the grand final. Acts will perform their intended song for a potential Eurovision entry. Songs can be performed in any language.

The winner, second and third places will be selected by an expert jury alone. A lack of televote is likely due to the same reason San Marino is unable to use a televote at Eurovision — the microstate gets its telecommunications services from Italy and is technically unable to have a geographically seperate vote.

The winner will received €7,000 prize money, second place gets €2,000 and third gets €1,000.

The grand final of the contest is scheduled for 19 February 2022, held at the Teatro Nuovo. The Nuovo is San Marino’s largest theatre, with a capacity of 872.

Applications for emerging artists opened today and will close on 10 January. Initial applications are free, but acts who pass to the audition stage will need to pay an entry fee of 30 euros (before 30 November) or 50 euros (after that date).

The event is a partnership between the Secretary of State for Tourism, Posts, and Cooperation and national broadcaster SMRTV. Plans for the new national final were first announced in April.

The event was earlier named by San Marino’s  as part of a series of events to revitalise San Marino’s tourist industry. Tourism plays a major part in the microstate’s economy but it has taken a hit from reduced visitor numbers due to the pandemic.

San Marino’s national final history

This is only the second time San Marino has used a national final to select its act for Eurovision. In 2018, San Marino used the new national final format 1in360.

The competing acts attracted familiar faces from national finals around Europe, including Finland’s Emma Sandström, Malta’s Jessika and Franklin, and Austria’s Sara de Blue. San Marino’s own rap star IROL also competed.

After several wildcard rounds and three live shows, the contest was won by Malta’s Jessika with guest rap from upcoming German rapper Jenifer Brening. In both the national final and Eurovision performance of their song “Who We Are”, the human singers were joined by cute robots.

Sadly the performance did not give a good result for San Marino. They finished 17th in their semi-final with only 28 points.

In 2020, while artist Senhit was internally selected, she used an online vote to select her song for Eurovision 2020.

What do you think? Who would you like to see competing in San Marino’s new national final? What sort of song should the microstate send to Eurovision 2022?

Read more San Marino Eurovision news here

75 Comments
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Bart
Bart
2 years ago

I didn’t understand this year why Senhit had almost no point of people voting at home, while jury was good. I thought the song ‘Adrenalina’ was amazing! Also unique with the rap part.

Also happy with the national final of SM! I love to see a real singing talent going to Eurovision.
My best two picks are: Tina Arena or Lara Fabian for San Marino!

Nils
Nils
2 years ago

in any language? so san marino could perhaps end up with a song sung in greek? i would have liked it better if they had limited it to english, italian and maybe fantasy languages.

Ashton
Ashton
2 years ago
Reply to  Nils

what’s with the ” “

Pizzy
Pizzy
2 years ago

Basically they can call it “30 Euros for San Marino” XD. But I love the effort they put in it, of course.

Sot
Sot
2 years ago

So much work put by San Marino, I’m impressed! The only fishy thing about it is the probable thought that the emerging artists are going to go through a lot of phases and bootcamps, just to see their ultimate cause being brought down by the already known artists who furthermore have been through less stuff…

siyu viyu
siyu viyu
2 years ago
Reply to  Sot

Same in Norway. The 2 artists in the final stage in MGP grand final in both years were pre-QF too.

Yudhistira Mahasena
2 years ago

“These contestants can come from any country – San Marino or abroad.”

I strictly want these names to participate in UVPSM:

  1. Ne-Yo (United States)
  2. Kim Jae-hwan (South Korea)
  3. Kim Se-jeong (South Korea)
  4. Sara Jane (San Marino)
  5. Tinashe Makura (Zimbabwe)
  6. IROL (San Marino)
  7. Tiara Effendy (Indonesia)
  8. Kamilla Ismailova (Russia)
  9. One of the Peppermints (Italy/San Marino)

Random, I know.

Sot
Sot
2 years ago

Oh wow, at least choose Europeans lol

Ashton
Ashton
2 years ago
Reply to  Sot

why though, the submissions are open to everybody of all nationalities

Urn
Urn
2 years ago
Reply to  Sot

“The Eurovision community isn’t racist”

Danny
Danny
2 years ago

Kamila Ismailova doesn’t sing anymore nowadays if you check her Instagram.

Luc
Luc
2 years ago

It’d be great if Karol G, Natanael Cano, Ovi, Duki and Jhay Cortez applied too

Luc
Luc
2 years ago
Reply to  Luc

Guys, of course I’m joking. I’d never like to see musical aberrations such as reggaeton or corridos tumbados in Eurovision.

Sabrina
Sabrina
2 years ago

Who knows how this will play out, but I can’t deny I’m super curious to watch! Something tells me we’ll have at least one unexpected Eurovision-known face between the established acts.

DCNXavier
DCNXavier
2 years ago

Soooo are they gonna select someone from a country that is in the same group as San Marino for the votes again?

bigcity
bigcity
2 years ago

“Video unavailable
This video contains content from EBU, who has blocked it on copyright grounds.”
What? :'(

Rashad
Rashad
2 years ago

Maybe this time they won’t get some local woman paired up with some one hit wonder rapper from the US!

Urn
Urn
2 years ago
Reply to  Rashad

I guess My House, Wild ones, Whistle don’t exist?

Rashad
Rashad
2 years ago
Reply to  Urn

Never heard.

Luc
Luc
2 years ago

It’s a pleasant surprise to see San Marino trying to outperform itself every year, a cute little country always trying to get better. I hope this pans out well for them and they keep this selection for the future 🙂

willchrisiam
willchrisiam
2 years ago

What does “present their voice of unreleased song” mean?

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
2 years ago
Reply to  willchrisiam

It probably means something like a demo version of A song

willchrisiam
willchrisiam
2 years ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

I just saw it was a typo they corrected. Choice, not voice. I started thinking that was some super weird way of saying we’d get to hear the voice that was gonna sing a new competing song in the next phase. lol

Joe
Joe
2 years ago

Also, watching the video, it’s sweet seeing Valentina get choked up watching her performance in the 2014 final. It’s clear that the words at that moment (“Maybe/This is it, this is real/And I feel that it’s right/Finally right”) summed up her Eurovision experience thusly.

Jake
Jake
2 years ago

will the contestants have to pay for their own airfare and hotel to attend the 2 boot camps/training…is that the way San Marino will get money pumping into the economy by forcing interested acts to spend money in the country

Bird Lover
Bird Lover
2 years ago
Reply to  Jake

and yet malta trying to promote itself as a tourist destination and you had a lot of negative things to say. The clear hate towards malta lol

Ashton
Ashton
2 years ago
Reply to  Bird Lover

I’d say the malta hate was far more by the fans. wiwibloggs released multiple articles on malta, as is their right to do so, and half of the comments were incredibly angry at that. I wouldn’t direct your ire at Robyn here

esc_fl
esc_fl
2 years ago

Doubting that this selection will produce something that can top “Adrenalina,” but if we’ve learned anything about San Marino, it’s that the country is a never-ending surprise!

Agent 007
Agent 007
2 years ago
Reply to  esc_fl

I think a lot acts rejected in their respective countries would apply. Of course this doesn’t mean the quality of the songs will be low. Besides, a lot of Italians acts can also be expected as Italians have just learnt what Eurovision is and can be enthusiastic about the contest.

Erasmus
Erasmus
2 years ago
Reply to  esc_fl

“Adrenalina” was literally just a cute bop with questionable staging that came 22nd in the Grand Final – this shouldn’t be hard to top.

Bird Lover
Bird Lover
2 years ago
Reply to  esc_fl

i like adrenalina but it is just a catchy song lol…. 2008 is their best entry and thats on period

esc_fl
esc_fl
2 years ago
Reply to  Bird Lover

True, Complice is maybe one of two songs from 2008 that I still listen to, it was an undeserved last place!

Last edited 2 years ago by esc_fl
ESCBal
ESCBal
2 years ago

I have the feeling that Inis Neziri will be participating at the national final, her manager is also involved in the Senhit’s management ??

Joe
Joe
2 years ago
Reply to  ESCBal

She’s tight with the Sammarinese delegation, yes.

Red X
Red X
2 years ago
Reply to  ESCBal

I see her being one of the established artists.

Eurovision fan
Eurovision fan
2 years ago

Am I the only one who doesn’t like the style and graphics EBU wants to implement in 2022? Just look at all those new posts, all those colours look so childish…

Sot
Sot
2 years ago
Reply to  Eurovision fan

It’s the mid-season theme

Apollo
Apollo
2 years ago

This makes Ireland’s decision to use a talk show as their national final even more mortifying. Ireland is one of Europe’s wealthiest nations yet they cannot even match San Marino’s effort? Ireland’s head of delegation should be fired immediately.

Totorino
Totorino
2 years ago
Reply to  Apollo

He should’ve been fired years ago. It we were talking in football manager terms, this would be the case

Apollo
Apollo
2 years ago
Reply to  Totorino

I wonder why Ireland’s broadcaster hasn’t fired him yet. There must be a long-term contract or something?

Branko86
Branko86
2 years ago
Reply to  Apollo

Probably long-term FRIENDSHIP! Otherwise they would have fired him earlier, but same happens in other countries, too.

Jonas
Jonas
2 years ago
Reply to  Branko86

He works for a public broadcaster, he is a civil servant – he will be there until retirement age.

Vale
Vale
2 years ago

Italian singer Arisa (winner of Sanremo in 2014) said: “San Marino asked me to represent them at Eurovision, but it would take €300,000”. When will EBU investigate about this behaviour? The hyped songs during the Eurovision are the products of these types of shenanigans.

willchrisiam
willchrisiam
2 years ago
Reply to  Vale

Well, she’s an established artist and as such she has the right to ask for financial compensation for the song and her time during the promotional tours, rehearsals and live shows. Or did you mean to say that they were like “You can represent San Marino if you give us a small payment of 300.000 euros”?

willchrisiam
willchrisiam
2 years ago
Reply to  willchrisiam

The loan part got deleted… Seriously, who set up this site? No emojis, no bold text, strike through…

Jonas
Jonas
2 years ago
Reply to  willchrisiam

Wiwi had an article about it at the time. That was 2017, it seems 2022 will be better.

Badwoolfgirl
Badwoolfgirl
2 years ago

With the majority of the 2021 acts being internally (re) selected, 2022 looks like we’re gonna be overloaded with national finals, and that might not be a bad thing. I look forward to creating a new national final playlist of all of my favorite NF songs that didn’t make it to Eurovision.

Lorenzo Celli
Lorenzo Celli
2 years ago

Can’t wait to figure out what they’ll come up with next year! San Marino is always full of surprises

Hector
Hector
2 years ago

Well they show ambition, and that’s always a good sign! I really hope this goes well for them

Luke A
Luke A
2 years ago

It’s time for Irol to try again but would love to see some of the San Marino Junior eurovision acts give this a go

sam
sam
2 years ago
Reply to  Luke A

so kamila ismailova or one of the other peppermints? there’s not many to choose from since michele and anita already went

Jake
Jake
2 years ago
Reply to  sam

yes, because if it’s one thing we know about San Marino is that they never repeat entrants

sam
sam
2 years ago
Reply to  Jake

true but i dont think anyone can honestly say chain of lights wasnt a chain of disaster

Denis
Denis
2 years ago

Hope the iconic Sara and her robot returns!

Joe
Joe
2 years ago
Reply to  Denis

Sara de Blue wasn’t the one with the robot

Denis
Denis
2 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Sorry youre right. Dont know where I am today;)
Whoever it was I hope she returns..

NickC
NickC
2 years ago

I love national finals!!! Grazie San Marino!

Nobody Important
Nobody Important
2 years ago

You go San Marino! Continue on being iconic! That’s why we love you! <3

Agaporni
Agaporni
2 years ago

It’s time for Sara de Blue (Austria), Maruv (Ukraine), Maika Barbero (Spain) and Kazna (Belarus).

Joe
Joe
2 years ago
Reply to  Agaporni

Maruv has made it abundantly clear that she isn’t competing for any country but Ukraine

John
John
2 years ago

If San Marino doesn’t have the televote capability why don’t they develop their own app for people to vote in instead. They can use it for the ESC as well.

Arvin
Arvin
2 years ago
Reply to  John

They can. But there is a required number of minimum televotes per country, and San Marino’s population is too small to make that limit

Joe
Joe
2 years ago
Reply to  Arvin

Same reason Monaco and Andorra had to use a backup jury a bunch of times (Andorra made the threshold by the skin of their teeth every year but 2005 and 2007, Monaco only made it for the final in 2004 and even then I’d wager French Eurofans made up a chunk of that vote)

Joe
Joe
2 years ago

I’ve had dreams of them doing a selection just like this. Very excited to see how this plays out!

Joe
Joe
2 years ago

There will be a songwriting camp prior to the live shows

Nils
Nils
2 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Let’s all hope they don’t invite Ralph Siegel.

Ashton
Ashton
2 years ago

I love how San Marino and Spain are doing their own little Sanremos. I hope they make it a regular national selection because it’s always nice to see countries taking the contest seriously

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
2 years ago

I wonder who they will approach for the ‘established’ category. Hopefully there won’t be a significant difference in song quality between the emerging and established categories since the emerging acts will be selected via only a cover song. I’m kinda assuming with ‘established’ they mostly mean former eurovision national final stars since it would be really hard to attract real established international artists. Or SMRTV would need to sell the idea to some international plate labels that see eurovision as a great public platform to kickstart their artists careers like panic records for greece and cyprus. Also can we get… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Frisian esc
Joe
Joe
2 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

Please lord let Elisa give this a try. Lot of good local acts, but if they bring in anyone from Italy, I hope a couple of Sanremo acts give it a try. (In terms of local acts: now that Valentina, Serhat, and Senhit have gotten multiple go-arounds, perhaps it’s high time Miodio give it another shot?)

Erasmus
Erasmus
2 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Serhat and Senhit are not local acts though…

Joe
Joe
2 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

But Miodio is

Jonas
Jonas
2 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Elisa would be good, but you might be thinking of Arisa.

Joe
Joe
2 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Possibly

Joe
Joe
2 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

The big dream would be snagging Pinguini Tattici Nucleari. “Ringo Starr” was so perfect for Eurovision, I could’ve seen it doing very well (plus it was already under three minutes, no revisions needed). But seeing as “Fai rumore” was also great and neither of them got to compete at Eurovision anyway, maybe this would be the venue for them to shine. They feel like the kind of band that would be totally down to do Eurovision, especially now thanks to Måneskin.

Samo
Samo
2 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

Valentina Monetta of course!