Carlo Conti Announces His Final Sanremo Festival

Carlo Conti has confirmed that the 2026 Sanremo Music Festival will be his last as host. He revealed this during an appearance on the Radio2 program, Il pomeriggio, hosted by Savino Zaba and Diletta Parlangeli. Conti stated that five years is sufficient and that introducing new ideas and enthusiasm is beneficial for the festival’s continued success.

The Importance of Music at Sanremo

Conti emphasized the central role of music in the festival, stating, “When all this smoke that is created around before the festival goes away, what remains is this gorgeous steak on the grill which is the music.” He expressed hope that the songs featured will gain radio play and become part of the public’s daily life.

Genre Variety in 2026

The 2026 festival will showcase a diverse range of musical genres, including love ballads, rock, Latin rhythms, country, and rap. Conti, with his background in radio, highlighted the importance of rhythm and maintaining a dynamic pace throughout the demonstrate. He explained the difference between hosting and presenting, noting that a host dictates the timing even as a presenter provides the rhythm.

Festival Schedule and Personal Life

The first three nights of the festival will feature all 30 competing songs, potentially running late into the night. Conti shared his routine of quickly falling asleep after the show, managing to get seven hours of rest. He also mentioned that his son, Matteo, will be attending the festival and has requested not to be introduced to any of the singers, preferring to focus on his hobby of fishing.

Sanremo: A Cultural Landmark

Sanremo, located on the Mediterranean coast of Liguria, Italy, is a comune known for its tourism and cultural events, including the Sanremo Music Festival and the Milan–San Remo cycling classic. According to Wikipedia, the city has a population of approximately 53,033 as of January 1, 2025.