A new and unmissable edition of Il Festival dello Spettacolo is scheduled for autumn 2026 in Milan: a long weekend, from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 November, that will bring an outstanding line-up and exclusive events to Superstudio Più at Via Tortona 27. Il Festival dello Spettacolo further strengthens its position, following the highly successful first edition in October 2025 which recorded over 15,000 attendees, as a key reference point for the entertainment industry: three immersive days combining live shows, educational experiences, film and television previews, meet & greets, showcases and talks designed to engage all fans of TV, music and cinema.

Born from the idea of TV Sorrisi e Canzoni, the reference brand in the entertainment world, this eagerly awaited second edition of the Festival will take place on three main stages where each meeting will provide the opportunity to experience unique moments with the audience through games, interactions, and meetings with the artists. This year introduces several major new features: SORRISI LAB, a new educational area dedicated to film and music contests, as well as workshops and masterclasses led by some of the biggest names in the industry; a large experience area for the public; and a food area open throughout the festival. Many prominent guests have already confirmed their attendance, including Carlo Conti, Antonella Clerici, Marco Liorni, Nino Frassica, the Gialappa’s Band, Gianluca Gazzoli and the casts of the beloved drama series Il Paradiso delle Signore and the record-breaking Italian soap Un Posto al Sole.

Each day, Il Festival dello Spettacolo will offer a continuous programme of events featuring some of the most popular artists and personalities in entertainment. With an increasingly comprehensive and integrated offering, the Festival also becomes a vibrant creative hub where emerging talents, industry professionals and enthusiasts can meet, learn and create new opportunities within the entertainment world.

Aldo Vitali, Editor-in-Chief of TV Sorrisi e Canzoni, commented: “Following the success of the first edition, the Festival returns with the aim of consolidating a project born from the desire to bring Sorrisi from the magazine pages to the stage, creating a space where audiences can meet their favourite artists in person. Our hope for this new edition is that people will once again participate with the same enthusiasm, confirming a dream that continues to grow and take shape. My sincere thanks go to the artists who will choose to be part of this second edition and to the audience who, with affection and curiosity, continue to support us.”

The official opening of Il Festival dello Spettacolo is scheduled for Friday 6 November at 12:00 pm with a special inauguration ceremony. On the following days, visitors will be able to enter from 10:00 am.  On all festival days, visitors will be able to enter at any time during the day until the gates close at 9:00 pm. Tickets are available through the official partner Ticketmaster. R101 is the Official Radio Partner of Il Festival dello Spettacolo.

From today, a new journey begins, with regular special announcements to follow, including the first guest appearances and artists in the line-up. These will be revealed via the Festival’s official social media channels and those of Sorrisi, as well as on the official websiteIlFestivalDelloSpettacolo.it.

VERTICAL MUSIC CONTEST

On the occasion of the Festival, the Vertical Music Contest returns for its third edition, introducing important new features. The multimedia project, developed in collaboration with Interproject, is designed to give emerging artists the opportunity to showcase their original songs through vertical videos, the native format of social media platforms. Applications will open on Tuesday 28 April and will be accepted until 15 September. From 16 September to 15 October, all submitted original tracks will be published online, allowing the public to vote for their favourite artist and help secure their place on the Festival stage for the grand final of the Vertical Music Contest 2026.

The remaining finalists will be selected by a distinguished jury composed of representatives from Ticketmaster, TV Sorrisi e Canzoni, ADA Music Italy, FIMI, the Italian Music Industry Federation, and Assomusica. The winner will be awarded a distribution contract with ADA Music Italy, confirming the contest as an important gateway into the professional music industry.

THE CINEMATOGRAPHIC COMPETITION OF THE IL FESTIVAL DELLO SPETTACOLO

A major new feature of this edition is Il Concorso Cinematografico de Il Festival Dello Spettacolo, a film competition which will officially open on Tuesday 28 April. The competition is open to creators of short films, feature-length films and documentaries and is divided into three categories: FRAME STORIES (short films), OPERA NEXT (feature films), DOCU HORIZON (documentaries). All submitted works will be assessed by a jury, which will select the overall winner to receive the SORRISI AWARD. Entries must be submitted via the FilmFreeway platform by 30 September. Full information and regulations will be available on the official Festival website and on FilmFreeway. For specific enquiries, the dedicated email address: concorsi@ilfestivaldellospettacolo.it.

MONDADORI ACADEMY

This year, Il Festival dello Spettacolo also becomes an important opportunity for professional development. Alongside the music and film contests, an extensive training programme has been developed in collaboration with Mondadori Academy, expanding its offering to include digital courses dedicated to cinema, music and television. Each course is structured into five modules, each focusing on a specific discipline within its field. Every module includes video lessons and practical exercises, led by leading industry professionals who will share valuable first-hand insights and experience. The cinema courses are already available on the Mondadori Academy platform (insert link).

During the Festival, the educational programme will come to life within the SORRISI LAB, through a schedule of masterclasses and workshops offering audiences an introductory overview of the subjects covered in the online courses, creating a direct bridge between live experience and in-depth digital learning.

TICKETS

Tickets for Il Festival dello Spettacolo can be purchased on the Ticketmaster website, the global leader in live event ticketing and the Festival’s exclusive official ticketing partner. Admission to the Festival is ticketed, with free entry for children up to the age of three. From today, tickets are available with a special Early Bird offer. Full details are available on Ticketmaster and on the Festival’s official website.

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TV Sorrisi e Canzoni part of the Mondadori Group, is the leading brand for television and entertainment enthusiasts, reaching 2.6 million readers each month, source Audipress 2025/I, 4.1 million website users, source Audiweb April 2025, and 1.15 million social media followers across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X and YouTube, thanks to a fully integrated multi-channel system spanning print, digital, social media, live events and branded products. 

R101 owned by RadioMediaset, Italy’s leading national radio group by audience figures, which also includes Radio 105, Virgin Radio, Radio Monte Carlo, Radio Subasio and Radio Norba, is the family radio station, warm, welcoming and inclusive, where entertainment is not simply diversion but a constant invitation to feel part of a vibrant community. Renowned for its musical authority, R101 plays the most beautiful Italian and international songs, past and present. The R101 ecosystem represents a fully integrated platform centred on music and entertainment, engaging audiences across multiple touchpoints including radio, TV channel 67 on digital terrestrial, digital platforms, social media and live events.

Superstudio Plus, located in the heart of Milan’s Tortona District, is the flagship venue of Superstudio Events. It was here that Milan Design Week began, and for 25 years its 10,000 square metres have hosted major events in design, fashion and culture, making it an essential destination for international brands and audiences. A leading name in Milan’s events industry, Superstudio Events hosts over 200 events each year and welcomes more than 800,000 visitors across its four venues, totalling over 33,000 square metres, including conventions, conferences, fashion shows, trade fairs and gala dinners.

Ticketmaster is the world’s leading ticket seller for live events, handling over 500 million transactions per year in more than 39 countries. With exclusive partnerships with thousands of venues, artists, sports leagues, art and theatre tours, it brings unparalleled live experiences to millions of fans at the biggest events around the world. It is part of Live Nation Entertainment. All scheduled events and activities can be found on the ticketmaster.itwebsite.