Levante and Gaia’s Kiss at Sanremo 2026 Sparks Censorship Debate

A moment shared between singers Levante and Gaia at the close of their performance during the cover night of the Sanremo Music Festival 2026 has ignited a discussion about potential censorship. The two artists kissed after performing Gianna Nannini’s “I maschi,” but the moment was only captured from a distance by the broadcast cameras.

The Performance and the Kiss

Levante, competing in the festival with her song “Sei tu,” invited Gaia to join her on stage for the cover performance. They performed a rendition of “I maschi” that culminated in a kiss. The kiss, though, was not fully shown on the live broadcast, leading to immediate reactions on social media alleging censorship.

Festival Director Denies Censorship

Maurizio Pagnussat, the director of the Sanremo Festival, addressed the concerns, stating there was no intentional censorship. He explained that the camera angle shifted due to the standard procedure for stage changes and the kiss occurred during that transition. According to Pagnussat, had the kiss occurred slightly earlier, it would have been filmed. Rainews.it reported on the performance and the subsequent discussion.

Background on the Artists

Levante, whose real name is Claudia Lagona, has participated in Sanremo three times, including the 2026 edition. She is too a novelist, having published “Se non ti vedo non esisti” and “Questa è l’ultima volta che ti dimentico.” TG24 Sky provides background information on Levante’s career.

Gaia Gozzi, known simply as Gaia, gained prominence through the talent shows X Factor in 2016 and Amici, which she won in 2021. She has demonstrated multilingual abilities, fluently speaking Portuguese, English, and French. La Milano details Gaia’s rise to fame and her diverse skillset.

Social Media Reaction

Despite the director’s explanation, the moment was widely captured by audience members and circulated on social media, fueling the debate about the broadcast’s framing of the kiss.