Marina Collins – Entertainment Editor — Senior Editor, Entertainment Marina is a celebrated pop culture columnist and recipient of multiple media awards. The comedy collective The Jackal will host the 2027 edition of PrimaFestival, running daily from February 16 to 20, 2027. Incoming artistic director and host Stefano De Martino announced the lineup during the evening edition of Tg1, launching the assignment with a televised comedy sketch.
What to Know About the Upcoming Festival Run
- The comedy group consists of Ciro Priello, Fabio Balsamo, Gianluca Colucci known as Fru, and Aurora Leone.
- Stefano De Martino serves as both the primary host and artistic director for the upcoming Sanremo festival.
- The announcement aired via a video call on Tg1 at 8:00 PM, featuring playful banter between the host and the incoming presenters.
The Announcement and On-Screen Gag
The official selection came to light via a video segment broadcast during the 8:00 PM news bulletin on Tg1. In the clip, De Martino connected via video call with Ciro Priello, Aurora Leone, Fabio Balsamo, and Gianluca Colucci. The group expressed their enthusiasm before the conversation shifted into a structured comedic exchange.
🔴 I The Jackal condurranno il PrimaFestivalLa conferma al tg1#sanremo2027 pic.twitter.com/q1nWyffHxE
When the collective suggested they were chosen for their professional background and ongoing relationship with the festival, De Martino offered a direct rebuttal. Vi ho preso solo perché siete napoletani,
the host stated, adding that he appreciated the regional alignment of the team. The banter played directly into ongoing public commentary regarding the heavy regional representation surrounding the incoming artistic director’s production team.
Prior Ariston Experience for the Collective
While this marks the first time the four members will anchor the pre-festival strip together, individual members have logged distinct appearances on the Ariston stage in prior years. Ciro Priello previously hosted PrimaFestival in 2022 alongside Roberta Capua and Paola Di Benedetto. Gianluca Colucci appeared on the main stage during the 2025 final to dance alongside The Kolors. Aurora Leone served as a co-host on DopoFestival alongside Nicola Savino and Federico Basso during the previous festival cycle.
Among the four, Fabio Balsamo stands out as the sole member lacking prior direct on-stage involvement during the live broadcast weeks. The collective will bring their distinct digital style and pop-culture commentary to the daily backstage segment, which covers preliminary insights, guest arrivals, and festival curiosities leading into the main evening events.
| Member | Prior Sanremo Involvement | 2027 Role |
|---|---|---|
| Ciro Priello | Hosted PrimaFestival (2022) | PrimaFestival Co-Host |
| Gianluca ‘Fru’ Colucci | Danced on the final stage with The Kolors (2025) | PrimaFestival Co-Host |
| Aurora Leone | Co-hosted DopoFestival (2026) | PrimaFestival Co-Host |
| Fabio Balsamo | None | PrimaFestival Co-Host |
Potential Shifts in the 2027 Broadcast Schedule
Beyond the selection of the pre-festival hosts, open questions remain regarding how the main competition lineup will be revealed. Production discussions are underway within Rai to potentially shift the traditional evening news artist announcements to Sarà Sanremo, scheduled for Friday, December 11, during a prime-time broadcast on Rai 1. Such a move would alter the formula inaugurated by Amadeus and confirmed by Carlo Conti, transitioning the artist reveal into a standalone television event tied to the final selection of Sanremo Giovani.
Additional Reactions and Closing Remarks
During the televised video call, the group reacted with enthusiasm, stating Siamo onorati, contentissimi
while interrupting De Martino as he attempted to speak. When the host tried to specify a detail, the members cut in, noting No non devi specificare nulla, sappiamo benissimo delle critiche che sta ricevendo
in reference to discussions surrounding a heavily regional production team. Aurora Leone participates in a stand-up tour across Italy, and Gianluca Fru previously co-hosted Pechino Express alongside Costantino della Gherardesca after competing on the show alongside Aurora Leone. Aurora Leone also appeared at the Fuori Festival broadcast on RaiPlay in 2022. De Martino will serve as both host and artistic director, holding responsibility for selecting competing artists and the remaining cast, while the selection for Italy’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest will be decided by the public and an international jury of experts. The video call concluded with the artistic director shouting a Forza Napoli!
immediately followed by the group’s Sempre!
