Sanremo participants announced

RAI has announced which twenty artists will take part in the 2016 Festival di Sanremo. As expected, there are a few well known names on the list.
The only returning Eurovision artist is Enrico Ruggeri, who defended the Italian colours in the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest. Also on the list is 67 year old Sanremo veteran Patty Pravo, as well as fan favourites Dear Jack, Noemi, Annalisa and Dolcenera. Arisa, who won the 2014 Festival di Sanremo, is also on the list. Interestingly, last year’s lead singer for Dear Jack, Alessio Bernabei, is now entering as a solo entrant.
The full list of participants can be found below:

• Alessio Bernabei – Noi siamo infinito
• Annalisa – Il diluvio universale
• Arisa – Guardando il cielo
• Clementino – Quando sono lontano
• Dear Jack – Mezzo respiro
• Deborah Iurato & Giovanni Caccamo – Via da qui
• Dolcenera – Ora o mai più
• Elio & Le Storie Tese – Vincere l’odio
• Enrico Ruggeri – Il primo amore non si scorda mai
• Francesca Michielin – Nessun grado di separazione
• Irene Fornaciari – Blu
• Lorenzo Fragola – Infinite volte
• Morgan & Blu Vertigo – Semplicemente
• Neffa – Sogni e nostalgia
• Noemi – La borsa di una donna
• Patty Pravo – Cieli immensi
• Rocco Hunt – Wake Up
• Stadio – Un giorno mi dirai
• Valerio Scanu – Finalmente piove
• Zero Assoluto – Di me e di te

The final of the 2016 Festival di Sanremo will take place on 13 February. In the days ahead of that, four acts will be eliminated to create a final of 16. The winner will be given the right to represent Italy in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest.