RTV Opens Submission Process for San Marino’s next Eurovision ‘Voice’

EBU/Nathan Reinds

Achille Lauro performs 'Stripper' during the second semi-final of ESC 2022.

After previously confirming the return of its new national format, Una Voce per San Marino, for the 2023 Eurovision season, Sammarinese broadcaster RTV announced further details today and put out an open call for submissions. Like in the 2022 edition, performers of all nationalities are invited to throw their hats into the ring. (Last year’s semi-finals included acts from Italy, Brazil, Norway, Czech Republic, France, and Portugal, and The UK’s Aaron Sibley placed 3rd overall.)

The first round of Una Voce per San Marino will again be a Casting and Academy process that lasts from October 28, 2022, to January 27, 2023. Emerging artists that participate in the Academy will perform live auditions in front of a professional jury, and around 60 of them will be selected to move to the semi-final rounds. There will be three semi-final rounds for international artists, one for artists based in San Marino, and one second chance round. In all, around 20 acts will be chosen by jury for the Una Voce per San Marino Grand Final, currently scheduled for February 23, 2023.

One major change in this year’s process is the elimination of auto qualification for already established artists. In the 2022 edition of Una Voce per San Marino, acts like Eurovision 2008 representatives Miodo and the eventual winner Achille Lauro were given spots in the Grand Final. Not so this year. Though established artists are not required to make it through the Casting and Academy round, they must compete in the semi-finals alongside their less experienced competitors.

The winner will be selected by a five-member jury at the conclusion of the Grand Final. No word yet on who will host the live event. (The 2022 final was co-hosted by Italian TV personality Jonathan Kashanian and Eurovision veteran Senhit.)

You can read the full list of rules and regulations here.

The return of Una Voce per San Marino marks the first time the country is repeating a national final format. Since debuting at Eurovision in 2008, San Marino has internally selected its act on all but two occasions. The country’s first national final was 1 in 360, the experimental format won by Jessika Muscat and Jenny B in 2018. Achille Lauro failed to advance to the finals at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, placing 14th in the second semi-final with his entry “Stripper”. San Marino’s best ever result remains Serhat‘s 19th place finish at the 2019 contest with the song “Say Na Na Na”.

Are #YOU excited about the return of  ‘Una Voce per San Marino’? Are there any artists from your home country that you’d like to see compete? Most importantly … do #YOU think Elis Mraz will try it again? Sound off in the comments below, in our forum, or on social media @ESCUnited.