Sanremo 2026: the report cards of the first (infinite) evening
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. Guest of the evening Tiziano Ferrowho literally took over the stage with a medley composed of “I’ll take a photo of you”, “The difference between you and me”, “The stadium”, “Xdono” and “I’m great”. In the early evening the press room voted: for each performance/song the journalists expressed a vote from 1 to 10, thus determining the first partial ranking of which only the top positions were revealed. Rockol is in the media present in the press room at the Ariston: below find our report cards.
LDA and Aka 7Even – “Clandestine poems” – 4
After a very long evening, a performance to forget.
Francesco Renga – “The best of me” – 5
A “regatta” that’s a bit modernized, but it’s still a regata. Francesco does his thing as always, but everything has already been heard.
Leo Gassmann – “Natural” – 5
One of the many pieces that goes off and bounces back. He can’t assert himself.
Marie Antoinette and Colombre – “Happiness and that’s it” – 7
Delicious, they transport you into their world. Nice tribute from Marie Antoinette who wore a dress that recalled a historical dress worn by Nada.
Rag Dolls – “Stay with me” – 5
First all-female rock band at the Ariston, as Carlo Conti points out: a simple and at times stereotyped song, but we like the positive and uniting energy it emanates.
Chiello – “I always think of you” – 5
The guitar playing is beautiful (it’s played by Tommaso Ottomano, the genius who collaborates with Lucio Corsi) and the atmospheres it emanates, but it doesn’t really reach the end, it lacks something with which to make the leap.
Thirteen Peter – “Man falling” – 5
The song has its potential and a nice groove, but Pietro interprets it in an exaggerated, almost shouty way.
Enrico Nigiotti – “Every time I don’t know how to fly” – 5
Nigio brings a sensitive piece, sung well, but which gets lost among the waves of the cast.
Sal Da Vinci – “Forever Yes” – 4
Paracula song that will become the soundtrack of many weddings. He aims at the altar of victory, but the proposal doesn’t convince us.
Eddie Brock – “Vultures” – 5
The crazy horse of this edition, unknown to most: a song that could reach far, like nowhere.
Malika Ayane – “Nocturnal Animals” – 7
Rhythm and nostalgia, underlined by the black and white direction. He still has to grow a bit in his performance, but in a Sanremo that tends to be boring, he wants to move.
nayt – “Before” – 8
A step above the others. The song, produced by Zeff, is about a sense of primal humanity “before” the masks took over. The strings make everything emotional, but not tearful: it is a piece with an underground strength that envelops and excites.
Serena Brancale – “Here with me” – 7
A very Sanremo song that would have won hands down at a festival ten years ago. A piece sung with mastery. The orchestra is directed by the teacher and sister Nicole. Watch out, it could get up there.
Ermal Meta – “Stella Stellina” – 5
Dardust’s production is effective and the arrangement works too, but the song, which talks about war, seems to get stuck between too many “unsaid” and metaphors.
Fedez and Marco Masini – “Necessary evil” – 5
The bromance between the two is a story of claims, criticism of themselves and their haters. Masini sings with intensity, but there is too much “storytelling” and acting. It will win, or come close: that’s what it’s designed for.
Levante – “It’s you” – 7
A difficult, intense, shining piece. Levante puts on a dry and powerful performance, which can still grow. The Sanremo public will perhaps appreciate it to a certain point, we certainly appreciate it.
Thunderbolts – “Stupid bad luck” – 7
The song talks about a bruised love and a night walk, it remains one of the most pleasant of this edition (it doesn’t take much, you’ll say): it’s written and arranged well. This first performance, however, has some flaws.
J-Ax – “Italy starter pack” – 5
Country folk in Italian style with violins, banjos and cowboy hats: the transformation is served. J-Ax tries to lasso everyone, but fails.
Raf – “Now and Forever” – 5
Not very original, out of time, but it’s a choice. In its genre and in its world it works, the performance can be improved.
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.
