Sanremo Music Festival 2026: Duets, Emotional Performances, and the City of Sanremo Award

The 76th Sanremo Music Festival continued on February 27, 2026, with a highly anticipated fourth evening dedicated to duets and cover songs. The night featured collaborations spanning Sanremo classics to international hits, with artists reinterpreting well-known songs and offering their personal takes on musical history. Carlo Conti, the artistic director and presenter, described the evening as “the party par excellence,” highlighting the mix of expected and unexpected pairings.

Bianca Balti’s Return and Emotional Impact

Model Bianca Balti returned to the Ariston stage as a presenter, following her participation in the previous year’s festival and after publicly sharing her journey battling stage three ovarian cancer, diagnosed in 2024. The evening likewise promised a strong emotional moment with a medley performance by Laura Pausini, though details of the song selection were kept under wraps.

Caterina Caselli Honored with City of Sanremo Award

A significant moment of the evening was the presentation of the City of Sanremo Award to Caterina Caselli, a central figure in Italian music, sixty years after her initial participation in the festival. The award recognized her lasting impact on Italian music and her influence across generations.

Addressing Youth Hardship and Addiction

The festival also addressed important social issues, focusing on youth hardship and addiction – including alcohol, drugs, and digital dependence. Vincenzo Schettino led a discussion with Carlo Conti, emphasizing the need for effective dialogue with younger people regarding technological dependence.

Performances and the Covers Evening Prize

Francesco Gabbani performed on the Suzuki Stage, while Mezzali delivered a performance on board Costa Cruises, featuring one of his most iconic songs. All 30 participating artists in the Big Artists section performed duets with guest artists, covering songs from both Italian and international repertoires.

The winner of the covers evening was determined by a combination of televoting, the TV and Web Press Room Jury, and the Radio Jury. The artist receiving the most votes was proclaimed the winner of the evening.

Sanremo Music Festival 2026 Details

• Dates: February 24 – February 28, 2026
• Venue: Teatro Ariston, Sanremo, Italy
• Presenters: Carlo Conti and Laura Pausini, with guest presenters including Can Yaman, Achille Lauro, Lillo, Pilar Fogliati, Irina Shayk, Ubaldo Pantani, Bianca Balti, Alessandro Siani, Giorgia Cardinaletti, and Gianluca Gazzoli.
• Broadcaster: Radiotelevisione italiana (RAI)
• Director: Maurizio Pagnussat
• Musical Director: Pinuccio Pirazzoli
• Artistic Director: Carlo Conti

The winner of the 2026 Sanremo Music Festival will have the right of first refusal to represent Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.