From Rossetto e caffè to Sanremo: how Sal Da Vinci entered everyone's hearts

Sal Da Vinci won the 2026 Sanremo Music Festival with his new song, but the truth—what you can see in the artist's shining eyes—is that he didn't expect such a powerful embrace. On the Ariston stage, he appeared emotional, almost surprised by an affection that has grown silently but unstoppably over the past few months.

To truly understand this victory, we need to take a step back. Because today's success isn't just born from the song he performed—intense, heartfelt, and capable of touching the heart—but from an emotional journey that transformed Sal Da Vinci into something more than just a singer.

The "miracle" of lipstick and coffee

There is a before and an after “Lipstick and coffee”.

That song achieved something rare: it became part of Italians' daily lives. Not just a radio hit, but a true emotional habit, the kind that stays with you while you're driving, working, thinking. Much like what happened over the years with the evergreens of Morandi, Celentano, and other big names in Italian music.

With "Lipstick and coffee"Sal Da Vinci has entered homes. And when an artist enters homes, something very powerful happens: he becomes familiar.

Become — metaphorically — one of the family.

An uncle.

The Ariston effect: audience already won over

And in fact it was clearly seen in Sanremo.

When Sal Da Vinci was introduced, introduced by the notes of "Rossetto e caffè," the audience was already warm, ready, and engaged. It's a climate that isn't built in a week of a Festival, but over months—or even years—of emotional connection with people.

The new song did the rest: beautiful, intense, and powerfully conveying. But the truth is that Sal had already found his way into the hearts of the country's diverse audiences.

Before "Rossetto e caffè," he was beloved, yes—but especially by his longtime fans, the ones who had followed him for years. After that song, however, something different happened: even those who didn't really know him started listening to him, singing along, feeling close to him.

A victory that speaks to the heart

This is why winning Sanremo 2026 has a special meaning. A "popular" victory.

It's not just the triumph of a successful song. It's the culmination of a personal and artistic journey that has made Sal Da Vinci a familiar presence in Italian music.

And perhaps this is the key to everything: while he didn't believe he was so loved, the public had already adopted him.

The power of a song can sometimes change an artist's destiny.
And in the case of Sal Da Vinci, it took him straight to the top step of the Ariston.