It’s the contest that inspired Eurovision, and a contest that remains popular not only in Italy, but now across the world due to the return of Italy to Eurovision back in 2011. The contest often acts as the selection process in which the winner often goes on to represent Italy at Eurovision, although this hasn’t happened every year since their return, it remains likely that an act, even if not the winner will go onto fly the Italian flag.

Italian broadcaster RAI have now revealed the artists who will be taking part in the 68^th edition of the contest which will begin on February 6^th and continue through to February 10^th. The hosts of the show this year will be Claudio Baglioni and co-hosted by Michelle Hunziker.

There’s a mix of different acts this year, from groups to soloists, old and new. Here are the finalists with their competing songs:

• Roby Facchinetti & Riccardo Fogli – Il Segreto del tempo

• Nina Zilli – Senza Appartenere

• The Kolors – Frida

• Diodato & Roy Paci – Adesso

• Mario Biondi – Rivederti

• Luca Barbarossa – Passame er sale

• Lo Stato Sociale – Una vita in vacanza

• Annalisa – Il mondo prima di te

• Giovanni Caccamo – Eterno

• Enzo Avitabile ft. Peppe Servillo – Il coraggio di ogni giorno

• Ornella Vanoni ft Bungaro & Pacifico – Imparare ad amarsi

• Renzo Rubino – Custodire

• Noemi – Non smettere mai di cercami

• Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro – Non mi avete fatto niente

• Le Vibrazioni – Cosi Sbagliato

• Ron – Almeno Pensami

• Max Gazzè – La Leggenda di Cristalda e Pizzomunno

• Decibel – Lettera dal duca

• Red Canzian – Ognuno ha il suo racconto

• Elio e le Storie Tese – Arrivedorci

As you will remember, in 2017 Francesco Gabbani won the contest with the song Occidentali’s Karma which went on to represent Italy at Eurovision and placed 6^th overall. Watch the performance below: