His voice cracking with emotion, Sal Da Vinci raises the trophy for the 76th edition of the Festival, dedicating it "to my Naples and my family." The Neapolitan singer, returning to compete at the Ariston Theatre after 17 years, dominates the competition: he wins the Festival, captivates the audience, and also clearly wins the televoting.
Ligurian rapper Sayf finished second, while Ditonellapiaga finished third. Rounding out the top five were Arisa (fourth) and the tied pair Fedez and Marco Masini (fifth). The room booed Serena Brancale's exclusion from the top five.
Born in New York as Salvatore Michael Sorrentino and raised in the tradition of Neapolitan sceneggiata alongside his father Mario Da Vinci, the winner confirmed himself as the absolute star of the latest Sanremo hosted by Carlo Conti.
The final evening of music and global appeals
The finale opens with a highly topical moment: Conti, joined by Laura Pausini and Giorgia Cardinaletti, reminds the audience of international tensions and the attacks in Iran, launching an appeal for the protection of children in war zones.
The theme of peace runs through the competing artists' performances: from the spontaneous chant of "Peace, peace" raised from the audience, to the words "Give peace a chance" on Martina "Cleo" Ungarelli of the Bambole di pezza group's dress. "Down with wars and tyrannies," says Leo Gassmann; "Peace and happiness are a collective effort," add Maria Antonietta & Colombre.
Bocelli's tribute and the circle that closes
The evening's special guest is Andrea Bocelli, who makes a dramatic entrance on a white horse to the tune of "Gladiator." The tenor performs "Il mare calmo della sera" on the piano, followed by "Con te partirò," center stage, the song he debuted at Sanremo in 1995.
The performance also pays homage to Pippo Baudo, to whom the 2026 Festival is dedicated: it was he who recognized the talent of the young Tuscan artist, now a global star.
Handover: De Martino heads to Sanremo 2027
The finale also marks the end of the Conti era. Live from the Ariston, the host appoints Stefano De Martino as artistic director and host of the next edition. The Festival is already looking ahead to 2027, while the recently concluded edition marked the triumph of Sal Da Vinci and his dedication to the city of Naples.
I saw the evening and have no clear judgments. The music was sometimes beautiful, but other pieces seemed repetitive. The dedication to Naples was heartfelt, but the overall communication had many timing and editing errors; the audience reacted to ads without any connection between the moments.
The finale was long and full of contrasting moments. Bochelli rode on horseback on stage, and it seemed like a theatrical act, but also a bit unfocused. The presenters interrupted frequently, and the theme of peace was brought up but not always clearly explained.
I'm not sure what to think. Sal Da Vinci's victory seemed natural, but also a little forced. The audience reacted strangely; some people booed, others applauded. Conti was speaking, the direction seemed uncertain, and the televoting wasn't very clear.