Entry conditions

The Kismet Organisation, which is known internationally for GEF – The World Festival of Creativity in Schools (www.gef.it) and for “Sanremo Junior” (www.sanremojunior.it) the competition for singers aged between 6 and 15, is running the 10^th edition of “Sanremo Senior”, for singers and singers-songwriters over 34. The venue of the Final Stages 2026 will be the Opera Theatre of the Municipal Casino of Sanremo on October 23/24, 2026.

Art. 1

Ages permitted to register

Only soloist singers/songwriters, both Italians and foreigners over the age of 34 can register in the competition. The admission criteria will be based on the age of the candidates between the first (1^st) of January and the thirty-first (31^st) of December 2026, regardless of the date of the competition.

Art. 2

Categories

The competition consists of 2 categories, each divided into 2 sections, as seen below:

Singers

– SI Category Section 1: Singers (known or new music tracks) aged between 34 and 59 years

– SI Category Section 2: Singers (known or new music tracks) over 60 y.o.

Singers/Songwriters

– SC Category Section 1: Singers/songwriters (authors of the words and music) aged between 34 and 59

– SC Category Section 2: Singers/songwriters (authors of the words and music) over 60 y.o.

All music genres are permitted apart from Opera pieces.

Art. 3

Text and duration

For the Selection, all competitors must present one music track for the maximum duration of 3’30” (3 minutes and 30 seconds). The music track cannot be changed, once a contestant is admitted to the following stages.

No voice is allowed on the music bases (autotune, harmonizing, doubling of voices or choirs), should that happen, the competitor will be excluded from the competition and will not be entitled to claim any reimbursement.

The proposed music tracks can be in Italian, in languages other than Italian, or in a dialect. Competitors who choose a language other than Italian, or English, will need to provide the translation in Italian or in English.

Art. 4

The Steps

Step 1

FREE On-Line Selections for all competitors

By 16 August 2026, participants must complete the Registration Form and upload the piece they intend to present on the website www.sanremosenior.it

The uploaded music tracks can be both video (mp4 format) or audio files (mp3 or wave format) and will be examined by the Selection Commission of Sanremo Senior, who will choose which competitors will be admitted to the “Final Stages” in Sanremo.

Registration to On-line selections is free of charge.

The Selection Commission of Sanremo Senior will decide who will be admitted to the Final Stages, and the decisions of the Commission are final. No explanation for the Commission’s choices will be given to either admitted or not admitted competitors.

Notification of admission to the Sanremo Finals will be sent by email exclusively to those who have been admitted, within the established deadlines. No “non-admission” notification will be sent to those who do not pass the Selection.

Step 2

The competitors who will be admitted to the final stages, taking place in Sanremo, will be sent the following via e-mail by the 6^th of September 2026:

• Confirmation of admission to the final stages in Sanremo
• Registration form
• Hotel booking form (form to be completed for the hotel booking). The hotel package prices are listed on the www.sanremosenior.it website (minimum 3 nights)
• The SIAE form
• Disclaimer (TV waiver)
• Consent forms for privacy of personal details pursuant to EU Regulation No.679/2016 (GDPR)

Step 3

The payment of registration fee for the Final Stages, within 13 September 2026, by the selected competitor.

The registration fee for the Final Stages is € 290,00 per person net (the participant needs to cover any wire transfer fee and currency exchange fee).

It includes:

• Kismet’s organizational and logistic support. Kismet has been operating internationally in the cultural, educational, and artistic sectors since 1977
• Sanremo Senior Staff Welcome Desk and Reception
• Performance rehearsals under the supervision of our technical support team
• Live performances with audio and lighting services on stage at the venue of the Final Stages 2026 will be the Opera Theatre of the Municipal Casino of Sanremo.
• A panel of expert jurors appointed by the Sanremo Senior Committee
• SIAE fee

In case of cancellation from the participant, the registration fee (€ 290,00) will NOT be refunded.

Step 4

Selected competitors to the Finals must send the following, exclusively via email by the 13^th September 2026 (having completed all the requested forms):

• Proof of payment of registration fees for the Finals in Sanremo (€ 290,00)
• The chosen song piece plus its backing track, by WeTransfer, in mp3 or wave or mp4 format
• Registration form filled in
• SIAE form
• A photocopy of the competitor’s valid ID or Passport
• 1 passport photo of the competitor
• An artistic CV in the Italian or English language not exceeding 10 typed lines
• Disclaimer (TV waiver)
• Consent forms for privacy of personal details pursuant to EU Regulation No.679/2016 (GDPR)
• If needed, a translation of the original text
• It must also be clearly specified whether it is a published composition, a published arrangement, an unpublished composition or something else.

The organization will not be responsible for any misunderstandings or communication delays in any phase of the competition.

Step 5

By 20^th September 2026 the competitors selected for the Final Stages must send by e-mail the following to info@sanremosenior.it:

• The completed and signed Hotel Booking Form (minimum 3 nights: October 22, 23, and 24, 2026).
• The confirmation of payment for the total amount covering the competitor’s hotel accommodation.

Step 6

All those competitors who will have forwarded the required documentation, and made all the required payments, will receive by e-mail, within 10 days prior to the event, the latest official and final information kit, including the schedule of events and the name of the assigned hotel.

Those who do not give confirmation by the indicated date (September 13, 2026), or do not make the payments within the above-mentioned deadline (September 20, 2026), will be automatically excluded from the Final Stages, without having anything to claim.

Art. 5

How to pay

The registration fees for the Final Stages and hotel accommodation in Sanremo must be paid as follows to:

UNICREDIT BANCA Agenzia di Sanremo

Beneficiario: KISMET s.r.l.

IBAN: IT59G 02008 49090 0000 10138260

BIC SWIFT: UNCRITM1D05

What is this for: “Name and Surname of the participant” – Sanremo Senior 2026

No other form of payment will be accepted.

Art. 6

Final Stages in Sanremo

The venue of the Final Stages 2026 will be the Opera Theatre of the Municipal Casino of Sanremo on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October 2026.

Such Stages may include one or more Semifinals and an International Final, or directly only the International Final.

During the Final Stages the competitors will present their song live with a musical base, in front of both Jury and public audience.

The Jury may decide to admit a higher or lower number of competitors, either overall or for each section, and/or not admit any competitor in the classification, at any time of the Competition and for any Section: Jury’s decision/s will be final.

The competitors performing in the Final Stages will not be permitted to use any type of video support during their performance.

All the competitors will be allowed to use a musical instrument, or to sing on a music base, or both. In this regard we point out that the Organization will not provide any musical instrument. The Organization will provide only the technical support for sound amplification.

For the Final Stages, the Organization will provide professional audio and sound support and competitors will be sent earlier a technical form outlining all available materials.

It is possible to accompany yourself with a solo instrument or in addition to the musical base. This instrument must be brought and played by the competitor and be of limited size (guitars, strings, woodwinds, small percussions, etc.). Performances with excessively large or bulky instruments are not permitted (piano, keyboards, drums or large percussions such as timpani, congas, etc.). The performance with an accompanying instrument will not determine any extra score in the Jury’s votes, which will only evaluate the components related to the vocal performance.

During the execution, choreography, special effects or the like are generally not foreseen, unless possibly agreed with the Organization. Any choreographies will not determine any extra score in the votes of the Jury, which will evaluate only the components related to the vocal performance.

The Organization does not make any musical instrument available, but only the technical part necessary for its amplification with a professional audio/lighting system, providing participants with a technical data sheet of the material available.

Art. 7

The Jury

A panel of expert Jurors – appointed by the “Sanremo Senior” Committee – will select the competition winners. The evaluation criteria will be based on intonation, vocal timbre, performing technique, breathing, expression, musicality, interpretation, text and stage presence. Their decisions are final. Both the President of the Jury and the panel members will not need to provide further explanations about the reasons of their judgement.

Art. 8

Main regulations

All competitors must present punctually on the days and locations set by the Organization: failure to comply will involve expulsion from the competition without either recourse or reimbursement of fees. The lyrics used in the competition must not contain sentences which may offend single people and the common sense of propriety and/or the Government, the Institutions, the Church, and any Religion. No moves, costumes, and attitudes, which may offend the norms of good behaviour will be acceptable during performances. It is also obligatory for the contestants to behave during the entire competition according to the norms of civilized behaviour, of proper manners and respect towards people and material things.

Anyone not complying with such principles will be disqualified forthwith without recourse.

Art. 9

Hospitality package in Sanremo

The cost per person of the package includes:

– B&B (Bed and Breakfast, no drinks or extras) in a 3 stars-hotel; double or multiple bedrooms as requested and as availability permits.

– All the services listed above for the various stages of the competition:

– “Sanremo Senior” Pass

– Gadgets

– Free admission to the venue of the Final Stages of Sanremo Senior 2026, the Opera Theatre of the Municipal Casino of Sanremo.

NOT included:

– Travel costs, independently paid by the competitors.

– City tax, to be paid directly to the Hotel Reception.

– All other entitlements not specified in “The cost of the package includes”.

For logistic and organizational reasons and as a form of control, all competitors, their chaperons, and all those who will stay in Sanremo during “Sanremo Senior”, (not including the residents in the provinces of Imperia and Savona) and to gain accreditation and compete, must book through the organization, using exclusively the list of “Prices of accommodation in Sanremo”. These are available on the official site of Sanremo Senior (www.sanremosenior.it).

Art. 10

Prizes and Awards

“Grand Prix 2026” to the overall winner among all categories

“Special Prize from the Sanremo Senior Committee 2026” to the singer chosen by Sanremo Senior Committee

“Targa Sanremo Senior” (Plaque) to the first 3 classified competitors in each Section of the 2 Categories

“Diploma di Merito” (Diploma of Merit) to the first 3 classified competitors in each Section of the 2 Categories

“Diploma of Participation to the Final Stages” to all the other admitted competitors

The winner of the “Grand Prix 2026” will have the possibility to perform his/her piece live on stage at the Ariston Theatre of Sanremo, during the Finals Stages of the 28^th edition of GEF – The World Festival of Creativity in Schools (www.gef.it) planned for April 2027.

The Jury can, by its own decision, award prizes that are not listed, and its decisions will be final. The Organization can offer more prizes and gadgets provided by other sponsors.

Art. 11

Advertising the event

Kismet srl – the proprietor and organizer of “Sanremo Senior” – is entitled to record and/or film and/or advertise the event – in its entirety, or in part – by any medium (in print, photography, radio, television, audiovisuals, internet, etc.) It can also use the event to publicize other initiatives aimed to promote or advertise, without owing anything to any of the competitors.

Art. 12

Programme Changes

If for technical/organizational reasons, or other reasons not caused by the Organization, the Final Stages in Sanremo were to undergo changes, they will be communicated to the competitors forthwith.

The Sanremo Senior Organization reserves the right to use, by their choice, and in specific geographic areas, selection and registration criteria different from those advertised in these Regulations.

Art. 13

Materials presented

All materials handed over to Kismet srl by the competitors will become the property of Kismet srl, to be used according to what the laws permit. They will not be returned. Kismet srl will be entitled to publish and/or present it elsewhere, before, during and after the event, to promote and publicize it, without owing anything to any of the competitors.

Art. 14

Copyright

All printed matter and trademarks are protected by Copyright: therefore, their use and reproduction by any medium are not permitted. Any use, which is not expressly authorized will be punished by the Law.

Art. 15

Liability

The Organizing Committee, the Promoting Association and the Society for the technical Organization, are not liable for any kind of accident involving people or property, both during travelling time (roundtrip), and during the entire event.

Art. 16

Acceptance and Personal Data

I declare that I have read and understood the conditions set out in this regulation and accept them unconditionally.

All event participants must know the norms for the treatment of personal data pursuant to the EU Regulation No. 679/2016 (GDPR) and unconditionally accept them.

Art. 17

Legal Litigation

In case of Litigation occurring, it will be referred to the Court of Sanremo/Imperia.

Enclosed: Entry Form 2026

Hotel accommodation prices: https://sanremosenior.it/en/accomodations-pricing/