The show was held between 4 and 8 February 2020[1][2][3] and was presented by Amadeus, who also served as the artistic director for the competition, alongside Fiorello.

[2][3] Together with Amadeus, ten co-hosts alternated during the five evenings: Laura Chimenti, Antonella Clerici, Emma D'Aquino, Rula Jebreal, Diletta Leotta, Francesca Sofia Novello, Georgina Rodríguez, Sabrina Salerno, Alketa Vejsiu and Mara Venier.

[4] Actress Monica Bellucci was set to participate as special guest, but she quit two weeks before the festival started.

[7][8][9] On 23 October 2019, Rai Commission for Sanremo Music Festival 2020 announced a list of 842 acts, but only 65 artists coming from all Italian regions -excluding Basilicata and Valle d'Aosta- and from abroad were selected in the first phase.

Leo Gassmann, Fadi, Marco Sentieri, Fasma and Eugenio in Via Di Gioia were chosen as contestants of the Newcomers' section of the Sanremo Music Festival 2020.

[8][11] After the auditions, RAI Commission - composed by Massimo Cotto, Vittorio De Scalzi, Teresa De Sio, Andrea "Andy" Fumagalli and Petra Magoni; plus the participation of Gianni Testa - identified 8 finalists for the competition among the 750 acts:[9][12] The Big Artists section of the contest will see the participation of 24 artists.

The international television service Rai Italia broadcast the competition in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe.