Sanremo 2026: Sal Da Vinci is the winner

The curtain has fallen on the stage of the Ariston Theatre, marking the end of the 76th edition of the Italian Song Festival after an intense week of records, controversies, and music that will stay with us for months to come. The final night lasted until the first light of dawn, confirming once again that Sanremo is more than just a singing competition; it is a mirror of a nation that gathers for one week a year—the so-called "Holy Week"—where the rest of the world seems to stand still.

Sal Da Vinci lifted the Golden Lion, but the victory belongs to Carlo Conti’s entire Festival. Sanremo is a true marathon: five nights of endless lineups, flying flowers, and viral memes. Sal Da Vinci triumphed in the grand finale with the song “Sarà per sempre sì,” a victory secured by the combined votes of the public (34%), the press room (33%), and the radio jury (33%). The competition among the 30 artists was fraught with tension; in just a few minutes, they bring to Italy’s most important stage the result of months of work, performing an unreleased track that could forever change the trajectory of their careers.

During the third night, Nicolò Filippucci was proclaimed winner of the Nuove Proposte (Newcomers) category with the song “Laguna,” following a head-to-head battle with the public favorite Angelica Bove—a heavenly voice and well-known face from X Factor 2023. Nicolò also comes from a talent show background, having reached the semi-finals of the 24th edition of Amici di Maria De Filippi. The Ariston stage remains a testing ground for new generations, showcasing the Festival's evolution.

The fourth night, dedicated to covers, saw Ditonellapiaga with TonyPitony take the win with “The Lady is a Tramp.” This parallel contest, however, did not impact the final standings of the main competition. The "Big" category was a true generational mashup: veterans like Raf, Francesco Renga, Patty Pravo, and Arisa stood alongside the new faces of Italian music, including Leo Gassman, LDA, Aka 7even, and Nayt.

The final was more than just a race: Andrea Bocelli graced the stage as the night's "Super Guest," gifting the audience at the theatre and at home moments of profound emotion through a high-pathos live performance of his greatest hits. Alongside Carlo Conti and Laura Pausini, journalist Giorgia Cardinaletti served as co-host for the evening. The stage also welcomed the ever-popular Nino Frassica, and I Pooh, who celebrated 60 years in music.

Finally, Gino Cecchettin appeared on behalf of Giulia, the 2023 victim of femicide by her ex-boyfriend. Her father, Gino, brought to the stage a testimony of a reality that is still denied, where not enough has been done to hope for a world where women are no longer afraid. The new awareness campaign for the Giulia Cecchettin ETS Foundation concludes: “Violence does not happen out of the blue. It creeps into our culture. If we don’t change, only the names of the victims will change.”

During the evening, it was revealed that Stefano De Martino will be the next host and artistic director of the Festival.

Parallel to the Golden Lion, several other awards were presented:

• Critics' Award (Mia Martini): Fulminacci with “Stupida sfortuna”
• Press Room Award (Lucio Dalla): Serena Brancale with “Qui con me”
• Giancarlo Bigazzi Award (Best Arrangement): Ditonellapiaga with “Che fastidio!”
• Sergio Bardotti Award (Best Lyrics): Fedez & Masini with “Male necessario”
• TIM Award: Serena Brancale with “Qui con me”

The theatre and Italian homes become a collective choir that pays tribute every year to the history of Italian music. With millions of interactions across Instagram, TikTok, and X, Sanremo confirms itself as the most anticipated media event of the year, capable of uniting diametrically opposed generations for one week.

Now, we just have to wait for Eurovision!