The homage to Pippo Baudo, the return to last year with Olly and his Balorda nostalgia, the entry of Laura Pausini and then the race with the thirty big names. Thus begins the 76th edition of the Festival.
Toe in the wound – How annoying!
For bookmakers it is among the favorite songs. An electro dance club rhyme that aims at the “Little Hearts effect” by listing a series of impatience. A piece with a powerful and pounding rhythm which in certain passages is also a little exhausting. It will become a hit and maybe even end up on the podium. Rating 6
Michele Bravi – Sooner or later
He sings with mastery and elegance as always. A ballad that will enter the ears of Italians slowly but surely. Ariston applauds. Rating 6.5
Sayf with I like you a lot
The audience claps their hands right from the start. With some distant reminiscences of Rino Gaetano, the piece arrives immediately and hits the drums enough to make a splash in the charts and on streaming platforms. Here too the “Hearts effect” is just around the corner. “I made a little song,” he sings. And in fact he is right. Rating 5.5
Mara Sattei with The things you don’t know about me
This rather inexpressive ballad comes and goes. A classic Sanremo piece from times gone by which in 2026 sounds decidedly too dated. Rating 5
Dargen D’Amico – AI AI
He enters the scene earlier than Pausini’s announcement. Then he starts singing and it’s clear that we’ll hear that Ai Ai in a funky dance key until the summer and beyond. Not exactly memorable, but that’s fine at the Festival. Rating 5
Arisa – Magical fairy tale
Disney musical atmospheres, perfect control of the voice proving that he gets excited even without shouting. The melodic line and the evidently autobiographical text are spot on. Wanting to go into more detail, the verse of the chorus. Rating 6,5
Luchè – Labyrinth
We have heard too many rap-like pieces with this cadence. Then comes the Sanremo refrain and the insipid hybrid effect increases considerably. Rating 4.5
Thomas Paradiso – The romantics
A piece consistent with the “Paradiso” style, the mood is that of a te by Jovanotti. From father to daughter with an easy melody that doesn’t take off. Eventually the piece twists on itself a bit and doesn’t fly high. That said, you’ll like it. Rating 5.5
Elettra Lamborghini – Voila
“Long live Carrà”, he sings. But it’s not enough. Case in four and little else. Predictable in its infinite repetitiveness. Rating 4
Patty Pravo – Opera
«We are saints and sinners, sailors, dreamers, philosophers of nothing» sings the “divine” who in the midst of so much approximation seems to come down from another planet. He dominates the stage by standing still with an epic and symphonic piece. Text in tune with the piece. The living testimony of another era of music. Rating 7
Samurai Jay with Obsession
Latin urban dance. Not even. At a certain point “andale andale” and the ballet arrive… Rating 4
Raf – Now and forever
If it has to be an Italian melodic song then Raf is welcome. The piece is not memorable but it has its dignity. Rating 5.5
J-Ax – Italy Starter Pack
The bizarre country folk version of one of the pioneers of rap in Italy: The idea of playing a surprise card is good but the song about the crafty people of the Bel Paese is fun but not exactly a masterpiece. Rating 5,5
Lightning bolts – Stupid bad luck
in a gray suit he takes away some of the grayness from the Festival with the attitude of a singer-songwriter and a light song that could take off in the evenings at the Ariston. Rating 6.5
Levant – It’s you
A refined piece all about interpretation. Not catchy but of another compositional level compared to almost all the other songs in the competition. Rating 6
Fedez & Marco Masini – Necessary evil
There is everything you need to rank high in the rankings. A mix of flashes of rap and melody: it’s not exactly new, but the Festival doesn’t care about these details. And the audience in the theater likes it. Rating 5
Ermal Meta – Little star
A bit of substance in the music and lyrics at this point in the first evening can only be good. A lullaby for a little Palestinian girl who is no longer here. Rating 6
Serena Brancale – Here with me
The voice is there, the piece not so much at least on the first live listen. A power ballad that sets the Ariston audience on fire after the sharp finale. For bookmakers it is among the favourites. Rating 5.5
Nayt with Before
- Malika Ayane with Nocturnal animals
- Eddie Brock with Vultures
- Sal Da Vinci with Forever yes
- Enrico Nigiotti with Whenever I don’t know how to fly
- Thirteen Peter with Falling man
- Rag dolls with Stay with me
- Chiello with I always think of you
- Marie Antoinette & Colombre with Happiness and that’s it
- Leo Gassmann with Natural
- Francesco Renga with The best of me
- LDA & Aka7even with Clandestine poems
