(ANSA) - Rome, November 26 - The number of big-name singers
competing in the 2016 Sanremo song festival will rise from 18 to
20, presenter and artistic director Carlo Conti announced
Thursday.
Conti, a familiar face on State broadcaster RAI, will be
presenting the popular televised song contest for the second
consecutive year.
The announcement came on the eve of Sanremo Giovani, a mini
contest serving to select six emerging singers to participate in
the main festival next February.
It will be broadcast on RAI1 on Friday evening.
Conti said the formula for next year's Sanremo would be the
same as this year.
The participants in the main competition will be announced
on December 13, Conti added.
"After the meat, we will think about the vegetable side
dish: my co-presenters, the guests, everything else," the
artistic director said.
RAI1 director Giancarlo Leone said the 2016 festival budget
would be in line with this year, when advertising revenue led to
"big profits".
20 big-name competitors at Sanremo in 2016 - Conti
Presenter says formula to remain the same