San Marino Goes Full Pop Circus: Senhit Wins… With Boy George
San Marino has once again looked at Eurovision season, looked at the concept of “playing it safe”, and politely set it on fire. Tonight’s San Marino Song Contest 2026 ended with Senhit winning the whole thing and booking the microstate’s ticket to Vienna, this time joined by Boy George on “Superstar”. Yes, that Boy George. Because if you’re San Marino, you don’t just pick an entry. You cast a headline.
The show, hosted by Simona Ventura, brought 21 artists onto the stage at the Teatro Nuova Dogana in Dogana, and even found time to sprinkle in a few Eurovision-flavoured guest moments with Tommy Cash (Estonia 2025) and Albano(Italy 1976, 1985 and Switzerland 2000) turning up as interval royalty. San Marino doesn’t do “small”. It does “small country, big energy”.
The artists
Andreas Habibi ft. AURA – “All We Need Is Love”
Dolcenera – “My Love”
Edward Maya ft. William Imola – “Balla”
Inis Neziri – “Aurora”
Kelly Joyce – “Oh Là Là”
L’Orchestraccia – “Cara Madre Mia”
Molella ft. Maxè – “Fever”
Paolo Belli – “Bellissima”
Rosa Chemical – “Mammamì”
Senhit ft. Boy George – “Superstar”
Anna Smith – “Bruised”
Matias Ferreira – “Paura”
MYKY – “Outta tune”
ORPHY – “Rise again”
Peelgrina Pibigas – “Il giorno che”
Iuna – “Freedom Calling”
Klem – “Ok Respira”
Luka Basi – “Chicolo”
Magdalena Tul – “I’ll Be Around”
Marco – “Shine”
Maya Azucena – “My Sin”
Results
The winner was decided by a five-member jury panel, and the end result was very on-brand: glamorous, slightly chaotic, and just niche enough to be brilliant.
Top 5
Kelly Joyce – “Oh Là Là”
Maya Azucena – “My Sin”
Paolo Belli – “Bellissima”
Senhit ft. Boy George – “Superstar”
Inis Neziri – “Aurora”
Final ranking
- Senhit ft. Boy George – “Superstar”
- Kelly Joyce – “Oh Là Là”
- Paolo Belli – “Bellissima”
- Maya Azucena – “My Sin” & Inis Neziri – “Aurora” (tie)
The extra trophies, because San Marino loves a side quest
As if winning wasn’t enough, the night also handed out a set of additional prizes, like a Eurovision-themed awards buffet where everyone gets at least one plate.
- The Ludovico Di Meo Prize went to Peelgrina Pibigas
- The Critics’ Prize went to Dolcenera, who also picked up the SIAE Prize
- The “Dreaming San Marino” Prize went to Maya Azucena
- The “Titan Style” Prize for best style went to Rosa Chemical
So yes: the jury crowned Senhit and Boy George, the critics hugged Dolcenera, and the fashion gods nodded at Rosa Chemical. San Marino managed to please multiple universes at once, which is honestly the hardest part of any national final.
From “Tutta l’Italia” to “Superstar”: the handover
Senhit and Boy George now succeed Gabry Ponte, who last year finished last, despite making half of Europe dance to “Tutta l’Italia”. That is the Eurovision curse in one sentence: you can fill the dancefloor and still leave with nothing but a sore ankle.
Now, with Senhit returning for a third Eurovision run and Boy George joining the party, San Marino is clearly going for what it does best: recognisable names, big personality, and a performance designed to make the camera operators earn their pay. Vienna, consider this your early warning.
