Sanremo 2026, the evening of covers: the performance reports

More or less anything can happen: it’s cover night, the one in which each competing artist chooses another song and one or more guests. And from what we saw at the rehearsals – that we witnessed – this is indeed the case. Here, here and here are the originals, if you want to learn more. Since last year this event does not count for the final victory, but is a separate race. The press room and the radio stations give a rating from 1 to 10 to each song (and count for 33% each), then there is the televoting. Rockol, as always, is in the press room at the Ariston theater and will vote on each performance. Below are our report cards, updated gradually, in order of the singers’ release. Have fun!

Here are singers, songs, and guests in order of appearance on stage:

Elettra Lamborghini with Las Ketchup – “Aserejé” (Las Ketchup, 2002) – 8

It’s not a duet: we discover that Elettra Lamborghini is one of Las Ketchup. Then she freaks out, goes to the audience and makes Ariston dance that famous ballet – which will now go viral on TikTok (even though it’s from 24 years ago). Give her the running of the Festival!

Eddie Brock with Fabrizio Moro – “Take me away” (Fabrizio Moro, 2017) – 5

The technical gap between Moro and Brock is notable, with the former fortunately trying to keep the reins of the song, which however did not excite us already in 2018.

Mara Sattei with Mecna – “The Last Kiss” (Carmen Consoli, 2000) – 5

A theatrical cover. Mecna is a good and intelligent rapper, but his bars really seem like something more. Sattei’s interpretation is good, but it’s really hard not to think of the original.

Patty Pravo with Timofej Andrijashenko – “Ti lascio una canzone” (Ornella Vanoni and Gino Paoli, 1985) – 6

The presence of the dancer has a truly relative importance: the cover is entirely the result of Patty’s beautiful voice.

Levante with Gaia – “The males” (Gianna Nannini, 1987) – 7

Energetic, fun and funny, sensual: men can wait, the protagonist is their friendship. At the end there is also a kiss between the two, but the camera widens and does not frame them.

Malika Ayane with Claudio Santamaria – “You burst inside my heart” (Mina, 1966) – 5

It is not obligatory to deal with certain songs and certain immortal voices: Malika does hers, but why bring Santamaria on stage?

Rag dolls with Cristina D’Avena – “Cat’s Eyes” (Cristina D’Avena, 1985) – 8

I thought I had seen everything in Sanremo, then I saw Cristina D’Avena singing Led Zeppelin’s “Whole lotto love” in mash-up with “Occhi di cat” in the rock version. It’s all so over the top that it makes the rounds, and it works.

Dargen D’Amico with Pupo and Fabrizio Bosso – “Su di noi” (Pupo, 1980) – 7

A risky combination that works: Dargen sings excerpts from Boris Vian’s “Il disertore” and samples the Pope’s voice, there is also Pupo’s “Su di noi”, and the whole thing turns into an anti-war anthem.

Tommaso Paradiso with Stadio – “The Last Moon” (Lucio Dalla, 1979) – 7

Who better to pay homage to Dalla than Stadio? A respectful and focused cover.

Michele Bravi with Fiorella Mannoia – “Tomorrow is another day” (Ornella Vanoni, 1971) – 6

Sung well, but everything a little too emphatic, a characteristic that both artists have in common.

Tredici Pietro with Galeffi, Fudasca & Band – “Vita” (Gianni Morandi and Lucio Dalla, 1988) – 9

Dad Gianni also arrives, surprisingly: a spontaneous, happy, truly beautiful moment of embrace between generations. Pietro interprets it very well, even with focused bars.

Maria Antonietta and Colombre with Brunori Sas – “The world” (Jimmy Fontana, 1965)

Fulminacci with Francesca Fagnani – “Parole parole” (Mina and Alberto Lupo, 1972)

Lda and Aka 7even with Tullio De Piscopo – “Andamento slow” (Tullio De Piscopo, 1988)

Raf with The Kolors – “The riddle” (Nik Kershaw, 1984)

J-Ax with Ligera County Fam. – “E la vita, la vita” (Cochi and Renato, 1974)

Ditonellapiaga with TonyPitony – “The lady is a tramp” (from the musical ‘Babes in arms’, 1937)

Enrico Nigiotti with Alfa – “En e Xanax” (Samuele Bersani, 2013)

Serena Brancale with Gregory Porter and Delia – “Bésame mucho” (Consuelo Velázquez, 1940)

Sayf with Alex Britti and Mario Biondi – “Hit the road Jack” (Ray Charles, 1961)

Francesco Renga with Giusy Ferreri – “Lonely boy, lonely girl” (David Bowie, 1970)

Arisa with Chorus of the Teatro Regio of Parma – “What women don’t say” (Fiorella Mannoia, 1987)

Samurai Jay with Belén Rodriguez and Roy Paci – “Baila morena” (Sugar, 2001)

Sal Da Vinci with Michele Zarrillo – “Five Days” (Michele Zarrillo, 1994)

Fedez and Marco Masini with Stjepan Hauser – “Wonderful creature” (Gianna Nannini, 1995)

Ermal Meta with Dardust – “Golden hour” (Jvke, 2022)

Nayt with Joan Thiele – “The song of lost love” (Fabrizio De André, 1966)

Luchè with Gianluca Grignani – “Falco a mezzo” (Gianluca Grignani, 1995)

Chiello with Saverio Cigarini – “I fell in love with you” (Luigi Tenco, 1962)

Leo Gassmann with Aiello – “It was all already foreseen” (Riccardo Cocciante, 1975)