ITALY: SANREMO 2026 - PRIMA SERATA - ALL 30 ENTRIES

The 76th Festival della Canzone Italiana di Sanremo kicks off tonight. A total of 30 Big artists and four Newcomers will battle out the victory in two categories and a string of other awards, and of course the ticket to Eurovision song contest in Vienna as a bonus -  if they wish so. 

Carlo Conti, the artistic director, will be hosting all nights with Laura Pausini, already the hostess of Eurovision song contest in Turin, with other co-hosts for the various nights: Can Yuman, Pilar Fogliati, Achille Lauro, Lillo, Irina Shayk and Gianluca Gazzoli among others. Carlo is doing it for the 5yh time (2015-17, 2025-26) and according himself for the very last time. It is already rumored next year's host would be Stefano de Martino with someone else being the artistic director. 

Among the Big artists debuting are Bambole di pezza, Chiello, Eddio Brock, Luchè, Maria Antonietta & Colombre, Nayt, Samurai Jay, Sayf, Tommaso Paradiso and Tredici Pietro. All the others have already participated in some way before at least once. We have also some Eurovision veterans among the cast: Ermal Meta and Raf plus Marco Masini who was Tozzi & Raf's backing singer. Previous winners are Arisa, Ermal Meta, Marco Masini and Francesco Renga plus Leo Gassman in Newcomers. Patty Pravo (77) is the oldest participant this year. 

For the first night the musical guest is Tiziano Ferro while Gaia will be on Suzuki stage outside Teatro Ariston and Max Pezzali on a cruise ship anchored ashore of Sanremo. Can Yaman of Sandokan tv-series fame will be co-hosting and the original Sandokan from the 1970's Kabir bedi. There will be an homage to late Pippo Baudo and last year's winner Olly will re-perform his winning song Balorda nostalgia . 

All Big artists will present their songs and the voting is by Press center or the accredited press, web and tv journalists. The top-5 will be announced in random order. 

The evening starts with a pre-show at 20.30 followed by the show at 20.40. The supposed ending time is 1.45 followed by after show until 2.55. All times CET. 

Olly - Balorda nostalgia 

Ditonellapiega - Che fastidio! ***

Michele Bravi - Prima o poi *****

Sayf - Tu mi piaci tanto ****

Mara Sattei - Le cose che non sai di me **

Dargen D'Amico - Ai ai **

A standing ovation to late Bebbe Vessicchio. Un mito. a legend.

(And some others who have left us...)

Enter Can Yaman.... 

... and Laura tries to sing in Turkish a Tarkan song.....

Arisa - Magica favola ****

Luchè - Labirinto ***

Then enter a lady of tender age of 105 years. Gianna Pratesi. Because why not? 

Well she's here to remind us about the 1946 voting when Italy became a republic instead of a kingdom. She was there and voted!

Tommaso Paradiso - I romantici ****

Elettra Lamborghini - Voilà ***

 
Patty Pravo - Opera ****

Samurai Jay - Ossessione **

Tiziano Ferro medley - 25 years of hits

Raf - Ora e per sempre **

J-Ax - Italia started pack **

Gaia - Chiamo io chiami tu. One of last year's biggest Sanremo hist.

Fulminacci - Stupida sfortuna ***

Levante - Sei tu **

Fedez & Masini - Male necessario **

Ermal Meta - Stella stellina ***

Max Pezzali..... sei un mitoooooooo!

Serena Brancale - Qui con me **

Kabir Bedi + TG News 

Nayt - Prima che ***

Malika Ayane -Animali notturni ***

Eddie Brock - Avvoltoi *

Sal Da Vinci - Per sempre si *****

Enrigo Nigiotti - Ogni volta che non so volare **

Tredici Pietro - Uomo che cade **

Chiello - Ti penso sempre *

Bambole di pezza - Resta con me **

Maria Antonietta & Colombre - La felicità e basta ***

Leo Gassman - Naturale **

Francesco Renga - Il meglio di me **

 
LDA & AKA 7even - Poesie clandestine ***

Partial results (01.31)

Tonight's Top-5 in random order:

Arisa, Fulminacci, Serena brancale, Ditonellapiega and Fedez-Masini

4 hours 54 minutes. The end.