Beijing Express returns with a very clear promise: this will be one of the toughest editions ever.
From the 12 March on Sky Uno and NOWthe new season of the most loved travel reality show on Italian television takes the contestants along a crossing route Indonesia, China and Japanon a journey beyond 5,450 kilometers which will end with the final a Kyoto.
Behind the exotic and spectacular atmosphere of the program, however, lies a race that this year seems more competitive than ever. Hunger, fatigue, tropical climate, enormous distances and cultural differences will test ten very different couples, forced to travel with a backpack, one euro per day in local currency and the ability to cope in any situation.
He returns to lead the journey Costantino della Gherardescawho for the first time will be supported by three correspondents: Lillo, Giulia Salemi and Guido Medaeach present in one of the countries crossed by the race.
The most anticipated couples (and those that might surprise)
As always, the heart of Beijing Express is couples. And it is precisely here that this season promises unpredictable dynamics.
Among the most observed names is Chanel Tottiwho competes together with his friend Filippo Laurino in the team of The Recommended. Daughter of Francesco Totti and Ilary Blasi, Chanel is the most media-focused face of the cast and inevitably one of the most anticipated characters.
On the opposite side there are two veterans of Italian comedy: Biagio Izzo and Francesco Paolantoni, The Fun people. Their irony could become one of the strongest narrative elements of the edition.
Another couple to keep an eye on is the one formed by former Olympians Fiona May and Patrick Stevens. With a background in professional sports, they start with a clear advantage: physical endurance.
Then there is the digital generation, represented by Elisa Maino and Mattia Stangaamong the most followed creators on the Italian social scene, ready to deal with a dimension very different from that of their smartphones.
Between music and pop culture they arrive Jo Squillo and Michelle Masulloas the rap scene enters the race with Dani Faiv and Tony 2Milli.
They complete the cast Steven Basalari and Viviana Vizzinithe stand-up comedians Tay Vines and Assane Diopthe mother-daughter duo Gaia De Laurentiis and Agnese Catalaniand Argentine models Candelaria and Camila Solórzanowho live in Milan.
The trip: Bali, Shanghai, Tokyo
This year’s route passes through some of the most fascinating and complex areas of Asia.
The race starts from Indonesia, among Bali and Javawhere tropical nature mixes with ancient temples and volcanic landscapes. From there the journey continues towards Chinabetween cities like Shanghai and Nanjingwhere imperial past and technological future coexist.
The last part of the route leads instead Japanamong the immensity of Tokyo and the suspended atmosphere of Kyotothe city that will host the final.
A journey that alternates spectacular landscapes and moments of pure survival: finding passages, convincing someone to offer hospitality for the night, facing physical trials and adapting to local traditions.
The rivalries that could arise
Each edition of Beijing Express has its own internal dynamics. And this year too the authors seem to have built a perfect cast to create tensions and alliances.
The couple Basalari-Vizzini starts with an already narrative premise: they are ex-boyfriends and have decided to participate together to understand if their relationship still has a future.
On the generational front, however, a comparison could arise between digital creators and the historical faces of entertainment, with two completely different ways of experiencing the adventure.
And then there are the most competitive couples, those who could really aim for victory.
Who could reach the final
Making predictions on Beijing Express is always risky, but some couples start with characteristics that could prove decisive.
Sportsmen Fiona May and Patrick Stevens they have the advantage of athletic training.
Friends Izzo and Paolantoni they could surprise thanks to the complicity built over years of career together.
And it cannot be ruled out that the social generation, represented by Maino and Stangacan turn their communication and improvisation skills into an advantage along the way.
Because Beijing Express continues to operate
After many editions, Beijing Express continues to work for a very simple reason: the journey is not just a backdrop. He is the real protagonist.
Couples leave with very little, cross distant cultures and return home with something completely different: stories, encounters and a new perspective on the world.
And if the production promises are kept, this could truly be the most extreme edition yet.
The couples competing in Beijing Express 2026
Gli Spassusi – Biagio Izzo and Francesco Paolantoni
Biagio Izzo and Francesco Paolantoni are great friends and two much-loved faces of Italian comedy. Their couple promises irony, improvisation and a complicity built over years of shared entertainment.
The Recommended – Chanel Totti and Filippo Laurino
Chanel Totti and Filippo Laurino are childhood friends. She is among the most exposed names in the media of this edition, he is a videomaker and creative: together they represent a young, pop and much observed couple.
The DJs – Jo Squillo and Michelle Masullo
Jo Squillo and Michelle Masullo share a bond that goes beyond traditional roles, so much so that they define themselves as mother and elective daughter. Between music, fashion and entertainment, they bring energy, personality and generational difference to the race.
The Fast Ones – Fiona May and Patrick Stevens
Fiona May and Patrick Stevens are a couple in life too. Two former athletes of the highest level, with an Olympic past and a physical resistance that could turn into one of the real strengths of this edition.
The Rappers – Dani Faiv and Tony 2Milli
Dani Faiv and Tony 2Milli are friends and protagonists of the new Italian rap scene. They have a direct style, outside the box and potentially perfect for tackling a race that requires adaptation and cold blood.
The Exes – Steven Basalari and Viviana Vizzini
Steven Basalari and Viviana Vizzini arrive at Beijing Express as exes, with a relationship full of ups and downs. Theirs is one of the most narrative couples of the cast: the journey could bring them closer together or make all the unresolved tensions explode.
The Comedians – Tay Vines and Assane Diop
Tay Vines and Assane Diop are two stand-up comedians who are very close friends. With their direct humor and a strong social presence, they could transform even the toughest moments of the race into a powerful narrative key.
The Creators – Elisa Maino and Mattia Stanga
Elisa Maino and Mattia Stanga are among the most followed creators in Italy. Friends in life, they come to the competition with strong communication skills and a very recognizable profile for the younger audience.
Le Biondine – Gaia De Laurentiis and Agnese Catalani
Gaia De Laurentiis and Agnese Catalani are mother and daughter. Their participation adds an intense family dynamic to the cast, made up of affection, comparison and the inevitable test of their balance.
Le Albiceleste – Candelaria and Camila Solórzano
Candelaria and Camila Solórzano are sisters, Argentine models and today they both live in Milan. An elegant and international couple, which combines different characters and a strong family complicity.
