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The tiny republic of San Marino is preparing to hold the grand final of its national selection, the San Marino Song Contest 2026, on Saturday 7 March at the Teatro Nuovo in Dogana. Broadcasting across television and radio on San Marino RTV (SM RTV) and Radio San Marino, the event will determine the country’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.
A step-up in format
For its second edition under the new branding, the contest will feature two live semi-finals on 3 and 4 March, each featuring 20 acts drawn from the “Dreaming San Marino Song Contest” pathway. From each semi-final, five artists will qualify, making ten, who then join ten pre-qualified or invited established acts for the grand final.
Though San Marino has less than 35,000 residents, its presence at Eurovision has grown in visibility. The decision to hold a multi-round national selection demonstrates both a commitment to domestic music development and a desire to be taken seriously on the European stage.
In 2025, the country qualified for the final of Eurovision for the fourth time. The contest now carries the dual burden of being a genuine launch pad for artists and a symbol of national pride for the micro-state.
In the coming weeks, key moments will include the announcement of the full list of finalists, song reveals, preview performances and staging teasers.
