Sanremo 2026, Carlo Conti pulls out all the stops: 30 big names competing, with Naples and Campania taking center stage at the Ariston.

It's a real invasion of notes that Carlo Conti announced today, Sunday 30 November 2025, on the 1.30pm news programme Tg1. The artistic director of the 76th edition of the Festival of Sanremo has decided to break the deadlock and, with a last-minute coup agreed with Rai, has widened the number of participants: no longer 26, but as many as 30 big will compete on the Ariston stage from 24 to 28 February 2026.

The choice was dictated by the abundance and quality of the submissions received. "I listened to over 300 songs," Conti explained, emphasizing that the vibrant Italian music scene made it impossible to narrow down the selection.

“I thank the record companies who put me through this: 270 songs were left out, but the 30 chosen protagonists best represent the evolution of our music.”

The Campania patrol: between rap, melody, and new generations

Scrolling through the list of names, a large and diverse representation from Campania immediately stands out, confirming the central role of Naples and the region in the national music industry. This year's Campanian "patrol" promises to be a real show-stopper, combining melodic tradition with new urban and rap trends.

Leading the group is Sal Da Vinci, a historic and refined voice, capable of bringing the power of Neapolitan tradition revisited with a modern twist to the stage. Alongside him, the heavyweight of Neapolitan hip hop: LucheHis presence further cements the raw, narrative rap of Naples' place in the elite of Italian pop music.

But there's also room for new talent and unprecedented collaborations. The duo formed by LDA(Luca D'Alessio) and aka 7even, both sons of talents but now established hitmakers, ready to join forces for a song that promises to go viral among the very young. Closing the circle of the Campania urban scene is Samurai Jay, another leading exponent of the new Neapolitan rap wave, ready to compete with the general public.

Conti's statements and upcoming events

"I hope I've chosen songs that will last over time, just like last year," Conti declared before flying to Bologna for the Zecchino d'Oro final. The goal is clear: to create a soundtrack that will accompany Italians well beyond the festival week. To learn the song titles, the appointment is set for the evening of "Sarà Sanremo," which will air next week. 14th December on Rai 1.

The complete list of the 30 Bigs in the competition

Here is the official list of artists who will grace the Ariston stage for Sanremo 2026:

1. Thomas Paradise

2. Chiello

3. Serena Brancale

4. Lightning

5. Finger in the plague

6. Fedez & Marco Masini (unreleased duo)

7. Leo Gassman

8. Sayf

9. Arisa

10. Thirteen Peter

11. Sal Da Vinci (Campania)

12. Samurai Jay (Campania)

13. Malika Ayane

14. Luche (Campania)

15. Raf

16. Rag dolls

17. Ermal Meta

18. Nayt

19. Elettra lamborghini

20. Michele Bravi

21. J-Ax

22. Enrico Nigiotti

23. Marie Antoinette & Colombre

24. Francesco Renga

25. Mara Sattei

26. LDA & Aka 7even (Campania)

27. Dargen D'Amico

28. Levante

29. eddie brock

30. Patty Pravo