Sanremo 2026: the first evening report cards
The first evening of the Sanremo Festival 2026 it opened with a tribute to Pippo Baudo, host of 13 editions of the event (an absolute record), who passed away last year: Carlo Conti has chosen to dedicate this edition of the Festival to him. The first singer to perform is not one of the thirty big names competing this year, but the reigning winner Olly: the Genoese singer-songwriter returns to Ariston a year after his victory with “Balorda nostalgia”, for the traditional handover. In the early evening the press room votes: for each performance/song the journalists express a vote from 1 to 10, thus determining the first partial ranking of which only the top positions will be revealed. Rockol is among the media present and accredited in the press room at the Ariston: on this page you will find our report cards. As always we discuss how the votes were assigned based on the songs which we had already heard in preview and also during rehearsalsand on performances seen for the first time on TV.
Here are our report cards, singer by singer, from the latest release onwards:
Samurai Jay – “Obsession” – 4
The Latin world at the Ariston: smiles, warmth, breaths that push, but there is no bite and more identity is needed.
Patty Pravo – “Opera” – 4
Very weak song, full of stereotypes (“We are saints and sinners, sailors and dreamers”) combined with “Battiatismi” (“We are philosophers of nothing”). Sorry for what it represents in Italian music, but we’re just not there, for the song and the performance.
Elettra Lamborghini – “Voilà” – 4
“Voilà”, very nice.
Tommaso Paradiso – “The romantics” – 6
At the rehearsals he seemed to be declining and instead on this first evening he appears convinced: a bittersweet interpretation for a warming song. In a sea of pieces that say little or nothing, he can leave his mark.
Luché – “Labyrinth” – 5
When the chorus arrives and the piece opens, Luché also seems to find the light that takes him out of the tunnels. It seems paradoxical, but in the most difficult parts he is more in focus while in the bars he still appears uncertain and excited.
Arisa – “Magical fairy tale” – 5
It would be perfect as the soundtrack to a Disney film – but we are in Sanremo and we always go back to ballads. Voice in tune as always, but Arisa in the “Frozen” version isn’t convincing.
Dargen D’Amico – “Ai Ai” – 5
Dargen tries to get the body and brain moving with a song about artificial intelligence, but the piece doesn’t take off, despite a nice chorus.
Mara Sattei – “The things you don’t know about me” – 5
A ballad that risks getting lost among the many tonight. The performance is good, but for now the song risks being too already heard: if we want to play a game of similarities, that “forever” is reminiscent of “Abyssal”. At the moment it’s not entirely convincing (let’s be good, for now…).
Sayf – “I like you a lot” – 7
A moved look, a voice that keeps up with the emotion for a piece with a light chorus and verses with many references to history and current events. At the end he says goodbye to mom and dad. His genuineness is contagious (he arrived at Ariston with his father’s Porter) just like the song.
Michele Bravi – “Sooner or later” – 6
A classic song that seems to come from a Sanremo of the past. Although he has a delicate and controlled voice, the piece doesn’t quite take off and fails to strike the right chords. To be reviewed in the next steps.
Tononellapiaga – “How annoying!” – 8
We start with one of the (few?) really strong pieces in the competition. Acid base, meme-ready chorus, great staging – all done with ideas and story. Diction could be improved. Resign yourself, it won’t all be so eventful and intelligent.
Raf – “Now and Forever”
J-Ax – “Italy starter pack”
Thunderbolts – “Stupid bad luck”
Levante – “It’s you”
Fedez and Marco Masini – “Necessary evil”
Ermal Meta – “Stella Stellina”
Serena Brancale – “Here with me”
Nayt – “Before That”
Malika Ayane – “Nocturnal Animals”
Eddie Brock – “Vultures”
Sal Da Vinci – “Forever Yes”
Enrico Nigiotti – “Every time I don’t know how to fly”
Thirteen Peter – “Falling Man”
Rag Dolls – “Stay with me”
Chiello – “I always think of you”
