Sanremo Festival 2026: the event that brings all Italians together returns

Everything is now ready for the 76th edition of the Sanremo Festival, which will begin tonight, February 24, 2026, and conclude on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
At the helm of the song contest will be Carlo Conti, confirmed for the second consecutive year after the great success of the 2025 edition, which saw the triumph of the young singer‑songwriter and rapper Olly.
Five evenings in which music will take center stage thanks to the thirty Big artists competing, who will present their unreleased songs in the race for victory and the chance to represent Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest. Joining them are four Young Artists competing in the Newcomers section, reintroduced last year.
Let’s explore the key details to keep in mind for these music‑filled evenings.

Competition format, guests, and co‑hosts

For the upcoming edition, the competition format remains almost unchanged from 2025.
This year, Carlo Conti will be joined for all five nights by an icon of Italian music known worldwide: Laura Pausini. Each evening, the two will also be accompanied by different co‑hosts who will add their own touch of professionalism and stage presence.
There will also be performances by Max Pezzali, connected live from the Costa Toscana cruise ship off the coast of Sanremo for all five nights. And, of course, the Suzuki Stage in Piazza Colombo will once again provide additional music and entertainment.
Three Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented to artists who have shaped Italian music history: Fausto Leali, Mogol, and Caterina Caselli.

The first night

Tonight, February 24, the curtain will rise with a heartfelt tribute to one of the Festival’s historic figures, Pippo Baudo.
All 30 Big artists will perform their unreleased songs for the first time.
Voting will be handled by the press room, TV, and web jury. At the end of the evening, the top five positions will be revealed in random order.
Alongside Carlo Conti and Laura Pausini, the co‑host will be Can Yaman, a Turkish actor and model with great popularity in Italy.
Guests of the evening include Olly, returning as the previous year’s winner, and Tiziano Ferro, the singer‑songwriter who brought American R&B influences to Italy before achieving global fame.
Gaia, who competed last year with “Chiamo io chiami tu,” will perform from the Suzuki Stage in Piazza Colombo.

The second night

Tomorrow, February 25, the evening will open with the Newcomers, accompanied on stage by Gianluca Gazzoli, who hosted last year’s Sanremo Giovani. The four young artists will face off in two head‑to‑head duels. Voting will be split among the press room (33%), radio (33%), and public televote (34%). The top two will advance to the final during the third night.
Next, fifteen of the Big artists will perform their songs, voted by radio (50%) and televote (50%). The top five positions will then be announced in no particular order.
Co‑hosts for the evening will be actress Pilar Fogliati, fresh from the success of the Rai 1 series Cuori; Achille Lauro, who competed last year with the hit “Incoscienti giovani”; and Lillo, a versatile and humorous actor and comedian.
Bresh, another standout from last year with “La tana del granchio,” will perform from the Suzuki Stage.

The third night

On Thursday, February 26, the remaining fifteen Big artists will perform, with the same voting system as the previous night.
This will be followed by the Newcomers final, again accompanied by Gianluca Gazzoli, with voting split among the press room (33%), radio (33%), and televote (34%).
Supporting Carlo Conti and Laura Pausini will be Russian supermodel Irina Shayk and impersonator Ubaldo Pantani in his famous portrayal of Lapo Elkann.
International super guests will be Eros Ramazzotti, a pillar of Italian music, and Alicia Keys, a leading figure in American soul/R&B.
The Kolors will perform from the Suzuki Stage.

The fourth night

Friday, February 27, is one of the most anticipated and beloved evenings of the Italian Song Festival: the night of duets and covers.
All 30 Big artists will reinterpret iconic songs from the past, each paired with a guest of their choice.
Voting will be split among the press room (33%), radio (33%), and televote (34%). As in previous years, the results of the cover night will not affect the Festival’s final ranking.
At the end of the performances, the top ten will be revealed and a prize will be awarded to the winner of the evening.
The co‑host will be model Bianca Balti, already a standout in last year’s Festival.
Francesco Gabbani will perform from the Suzuki Stage.

The fifth night

Everything will be decided on Saturday, February 28: all 30 Big artists will perform once more, voted by the press room (33%), radio (33%), and televote (34%).
At the end of the night, the votes will be added to those from previous evenings, producing the final ranking from 30th to 6th place.
The top five will not yet be revealed—they will compete in the grand final. Voting will reopen with the same system, and the combined totals will determine the winner of the 76th edition.
Co‑hosting alongside Carlo Conti and Laura Pausini will be Nino Frassica, comedian and actor who co‑hosted last year, and TG1 journalist Giorgia Cardinaletti.
Guest of the evening will be internationally renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli, while the band Pooh will celebrate their sixty‑year career from Piazza Colombo.

The Sanremo Festival “beyond” Sanremo

Beginning on February 21, 2026, and running until February 28, the PrimaFestival segment accompanies viewers toward the five Ariston evenings with behind‑the‑scenes content, curiosities, and interviews. It is hosted by three well‑known radio and TV personalities: Ema Stokholma, Manola Moslehi, and Carolina Rey.
For night owls, entertainment continues with the DopoFestival, where Nicola Savino—host of the 2016 and 2017 editions—will comment with irony on the highlights of each evening. He will be joined by Aurora Leone of The Jackal, stand‑up comedian Federico Basso, and Maestro Enrico Cremonesi for musical analysis.
After the Festival, Carlo Conti and Nino Frassica will host Sanremo Top, a program created by Pippo Baudo in 1994 and aired until 2002.
In tribute to Baudo, the show will air on March 7 and 14, 2026. The Big artists will return as guests to discuss their Festival experience and analyze the performance of their songs in the charts.

The artists headlining the Festival

Let’s now move on to the main stars of the Festival: the competing artists! There are 30 Big artists in the competition, selected by artistic director Carlo Conti with the aim of “bringing together proposals for different generations.”

The Big Artists

Arisa: A performer known for the elegance and delicacy of her voice, and already a two‑time Sanremo winner: in 2009 in the Newcomers section with Sincerità, and in 2014 among the Big with Controvento. Carlo Conti selected her song Magica favola for what will be her eighth participation overall.

Bambole di Pezza: An all‑female rock band whose songs often address gender equality and the fight against gender‑based violence. They make their Festival debut with the song Resta con me.

Chiello: Rapper, singer‑songwriter, and former member of the trap collective FSK Satellite. He appeared on the Ariston stage last year, duetting with Rose Villain on Lucio Battisti’s Fiori rosa, fiori di pesco. This year he debuts as a competing artist with Ti penso sempre.

Dargen D’Amico: Rapper, singer‑songwriter, and producer whose music blends rap, songwriting, and electronic influences. This is his third Festival appearance, after Dove si balla (2022) and Onda alta (2024). His competing song this year is titled Ai ai.

Ditonellapiaga: A versatile singer‑songwriter who brings indie and dance‑pop to the stage with sharp wit and irony. She previously competed in 2022 with Chimica, alongside Rettore. This year she returns as a solo artist with Che fastidio!.

Eddie Brock: Indie singer‑songwriter who released his debut album Amarsi è la rivoluzione in 2025. That same year he rose to fame thanks to Non è mica te, a track from the album that went viral on TikTok. He competes with the song Avvoltoi.

Elettra Lamborghini: Singer, showgirl, and TV host who co‑presented the Festival last year. She returns as a contestant after her previous participation in 2020. Her competing track Voilà promises to get the audience dancing.

Enrico Nigiotti: Singer‑songwriter making his fourth Festival appearance (third among the Big). He first became known to the public through Amici. He competes with the song Ogni volta che non so volare.

Ermal Meta: Singer‑songwriter and winner of the 2018 Festival with Non mi avete fatto niente, performed with Fabrizio Moro. Former member of the indie band La Fame di Camilla, he first appeared at Sanremo in 2010 in the Newcomers section. Since then, he has returned once in the Newcomers category and three times among the Big. His new song is titled Stella stellina.

Fedez and Marco Masini: Not an unprecedented duo—they performed together in 2025 during the cover night with *Bella str*****.
Fedez is a rapper and major social media personality, returning to Sanremo after competing in 2021 with Francesca Michielin and again in 2025 as a solo artist.
Marco Masini is a singer‑songwriter with a warm, gritty, powerful voice, and a two‑time Sanremo winner: in 1990 (Newcomers) with Disperato and in 2004 (Big) with L’uomo volante.
Together, they will perform Male necessario.

Francesco Renga: A familiar face at Sanremo. The pop/rock singer‑songwriter and former Timoria member won the Festival in 2005 with Angelo. He has competed ten times (once with Timoria) and returns for the eleventh with Il meglio di me.

Fulminacci: A pop/indie‑pop singer‑songwriter known for his ironic style. He debuted at Sanremo in 2021 with Santa Marinella. For his second participation, he brings the song Stupida sfortuna.

J‑Ax: The “uncle” of Italian rap competes for the first time as a solo artist. He previously took part in 2023 as a member of Articolo 31. He brings his trademark irony with the song Italia starter pack.

LDA and Aka7even: Two young singer‑songwriters and talents from the Amici school.
LDA, son of well‑known artist Gigi D’Alessio, competed in Amici 21 and at Sanremo 2023 with Se poi domani.
Aka7even entered X Factor 11 before joining Amici 20, reaching the final, and later competing at Sanremo 2022 with Perfetta così.
They join forces to perform Poesie clandestine.

Leo Gassmann: Singer‑songwriter and actor, son of Alessandro Gassmann, semifinalist of X Factor 12, and winner of the 2020 Newcomers section with Vai bene così. His song Dammi un bacio ja became part of the soundtrack of the hit series Un professore. He competes with Naturale.

Levante: An artist who blends songwriting and pop, also known for her activism on civil rights and feminism. She has competed twice before: in 2020 with Tikibombom and in 2023 with Vivo. She returns with the song Sei tu.

Luchè: A prominent rapper from the Neapolitan scene, former member of Co’Sang with Ntò, earning widespread acclaim before launching a successful solo career. He makes his Sanremo debut with Labirinto.

Malika Ayane: A veteran singer‑songwriter of the Festival, where she has already competed five times. She has twice won the Mia Martini Critics’ Award: in 2010 with Ricomincio da qui and in 2015 with Adesso e qui (nostalgico presente). Her 2010 participation is remembered for the famous episode in which the orchestra threw sheet music onstage after her fifth‑place finish was announced. This year she returns with Animali notturni.

Mara Sattei: A singer‑songwriter who took part in Amici 13, reaching the evening phase, and later climbed the charts thanks to collaborations with her brother Thasup, producer and rapper. She competed at Sanremo in 2023 with Duemilaminuti; this year she returns with Le cose che non sai di me.

Maria Antonietta and Colombre: A pair of intellectual singer‑songwriters, linked both artistically and romantically since 2013.
Maria Antonietta is a singer‑songwriter whose stage name pays homage to the historic Queen of France. She holds a degree in Art History and later studied theology, which led her to host religious‑themed programs on Sky Arte such as Sacra bellezza – Storie di santi e reliquie and Maddalena – Il mistero e l’immagine.
Colombre is a literature teacher and indie‑pop singer‑songwriter, former frontman of the Italian band Chewingum. In 2018 he won the Emerging Artist Award and the Super MEI Circus Prize.
Together, they will debut at the Festival with La felicità e basta.

Michele Bravi: Singer‑songwriter, actor, and winner of the seventh edition of X Factor. He has competed twice at Sanremo: in 2017 with Il diario degli errori and in 2022 with Inverno dei fiori. He returns with Prima o poi.

Nayt: An introspective rapper and a leading figure of Italian conscious hip hop. His songs blend songwriting and extrabeat technique thanks to his strong technical skills. These elements will shape his debut Sanremo entry, Prima che.

Patty Pravo: In terms of musical career, Patty Pravo is undoubtedly the “Biggest of the Big,” with over 120 million records sold worldwide. A provocative and sensual performer, she has already competed eleven times at the Festival, winning the Critics’ Award three times. For her twelfth participation, she will perform Opera.

Raf: Another major artist with an extensive discography, including standout songs such as Gente di mare with Umberto Tozzi, with whom he competed at Eurovision in 1987. He composed the music for that year’s Sanremo‑winning song Si può dare di più (Tozzi‑Ruggeri‑Morandi). Raf has competed four times among the Big and returns with Ora e per sempre.

Sal Da Vinci: A singer of Neapolitan music, he won the Canale 5 Italian Festival in 1994 with Vera. He previously competed at Sanremo in 2009 with Non riesco a farti innamorare. He regained commercial success in 2024 thanks to the viral hit Rossetto e caffè and returns this year with Per sempre sì.

Samurai Jay: Rapper and singer‑songwriter from the Neapolitan rap scene. His debut album Lacrime (2020) featured collaborations with artists such as Geolier, Rkomi, and Guè. In summer 2025, his track Halo went viral on social platforms. He will debut at Sanremo with the unreleased song Ossessione.

Sayf: A rapper whose distinctive stage name means “sword” in Arabic. His songs are marked by honesty and introspection, exploring themes such as belonging and identity. Last summer he topped the charts with Sto bene al mare, alongside Marco Mengoni and Rkomi. His Sanremo debut will be with Tu mi piaci tanto.

Serena Brancale: Singer‑songwriter and multi‑instrumentalist with a background in jazz, soul, and R&B. She first gained success with the viral track Baccalà, followed by Anema e core, which she performed at last year’s Festival. She continues her rise with Qui con me.

Tommaso Paradiso: Singer‑songwriter and former member of Thegiornalisti, known for numerous pop/indie‑pop hits. A philosophy graduate, he is recognized for his nostalgic and romantic style—qualities reflected in his competing song I romantici.

Tredici Pietro: Singer‑songwriter and rapper, son of Italian music icon Gianni Morandi. He achieved commercial success in 2020 with Vestiti d’odio, featuring the group Psicologi, and in 2025 with Che gusto c'è alongside Fabri Fibra. He makes his Sanremo debut with Uomo che cade.

Newcomers

Angelica Bove: A singer‑songwriter with a gritty tone and emotionally intense performances, semifinalist of the 17th edition of X Factor. She competed in Sanremo Giovani in 2024 with La nostra malinconia and again in 2025 with Mattone, which won the competition. She will perform the same song among the Newcomers.

Blind, El Ma & Soniko: Blind is a rapper who competed in X Factor 2020 on Emma Marrone’s team and later appeared on L’isola dei famosi 2022.
El Ma is a Bulgarian singer‑songwriter who competed in X Factor 2024.
Soniko is a DJ and producer who won the Lunezia Prize in 2019 with Amare l’amore.
The trio won Area Sanremo and will compete among the Newcomers with Nei miei DM.

Mazzariello: A young Neapolitan singer‑songwriter who began rising in 2024, the year he performed at the May Day Concert. After competing in Sanremo Giovani with Amarsi per lavoro, he won Area Sanremo in 2025 and enters the Newcomers section with Manifestazione d’amore.

Nicolò Filippucci: A singer with a powerful voice who earned strong public support during Amici 24, where he reached the semifinals before elimination. His participation in Sanremo Giovani led to victory with Laguna, securing his place among the Newcomers performing on the Ariston stage.

Photo credits (where not otherwise specified): Rai