Sanremo 2026: A Festival at a Crossroads

The 76th edition of the Sanremo Music Festival, held from February 24th to 28th, 2026, under the artistic direction and hosting of Carlo Conti, presented a nuanced outcome. While not a resounding failure, the festival didn’t replicate the successes of previous years, prompting reflection on its future direction.

Audience Figures and Media Engagement

The festival attracted an average audience of 9.8 million viewers, achieving a 62.5% share across its five evenings. This represents a decrease compared to the over 12 million viewers recorded in 2025. Television viewership, while substantial, didn’t fully capture the potential audience, and social media engagement was notably cooler than in the previous year. Rai’s social media channels performed well numerically, but the broader online conversation lacked the intensity seen in 2025, where artists and guests generated significant “hype.”

The festival continues to be a significant moment of collective viewing in Italy, generating 72 million euros in revenue for Rai through advertising and related initiatives.

A Historical Perspective on Sanremo

The Sanremo Music Festival has evolved alongside Italy’s media landscape since its inception in 1951, initially gaining prominence through radio and then television. It has develop into a cultural touchstone, marked by iconic moments like Domenico Modugno’s open arms and the tragedies surrounding Luigi Tenco.

Two hosts, Mike Bongiorno (11 festivals) and Pippo Baudo (13 festivals), have been particularly influential in shaping the festival’s identity. Baudo is credited with transforming Sanremo into a large-scale media event, reaching over 18 million viewers in 1987.

Challenges and Potential Rethinking

Recent festivals, including those led by Amadeus and Carlo Conti in 2025, have attempted to recapture the spirit of Baudo’s “grand event” approach. Still, the 2026 edition highlighted several areas needing attention. These include the need for a more stable and independent artistic organization, potential improvements to the venue (the Teatro Ariston), a review of the song selection process and the number of competing artists (30 is considered a challenging number for a television show), and a revision of the voting and televoting mechanisms.

Co-Hosts and Key Moments

Carlo Conti co-hosted the festival with Laura Pausini, and was joined by a rotating cast of co-hosts throughout the five nights, including Can Yaman, Pilar Fogliati, Achille Lauro, Lillo, Irina Shayk, Ubaldo Pantani, Gianluca Gazzoli, Bianca Balti, Alessandro Siani, Giorgia Cardinaletti, and Nino Frassica. During the first press conference, Conti became emotional while remembering Pippo Baudo, dedicating the festival to his memory.

Winners of Sanremo 2026

Sal Da Vinci won the Campioni section with the song “Per sempre sì,” while Nicolò Filippucci, known as Ditonellapiaga, won the Nuove proposte section with “Laguna.”

Sanremo remains a symbol of the enduring power of television to unite audiences and the continued relevance of public service broadcasting in Italy. Its legacy requires careful stewardship to ensure its continued success.