Sanremo Festival 2026: Ditonellapiaga and TonyPitony Win Prestigious Covers and Duets Evening

The fourth evening of the legendary Sanremo Festival brought resolutions in one of the most anticipated categories – the covers and duets competition. Victory was claimed by Margherita Carducci, performing under the pseudonym Ditonellapiaga, together with the controversial artist TonyPitony. Their interpretation caused a huge stir, combining modern sensibility with the classic form of Italian song. Right behind them on the podium were Sayf and Arisa, confirming the high level of this year's competition. Ditonellapiaga's success is particularly significant as it sheds new light on the final overall standings, in which the artist has become one of the favorites for the main prize. The event was not without strong emotions and diplomatic tensions in the show-business world. The performance by Gianni Morandi, who appeared on stage as a surprise guest, resonated widely, eliciting enthusiasm from the audience but also irritation from actor Alessandro Gassmann, which became the spark for a media dispute. The stage of the Ariston Theatre also became a place for social statements. The kiss between singers Levante and Gaia during their performance sparked a wave of comments on social media, especially in the context of the reaction from RAI television directors, who were accused of trying to „escape” the camera from that moment. This situation reopened the debate on the boundaries of artistic freedom in public media. The Sanremo Festival, inaugurated in 1951, is the oldest and most prestigious song contest in Europe, serving as the prototype for the Eurovision Song Contest and remaining a key point of reference for Italian culture.An interesting technical and organizational thread of the evening was the issue of invited guests and family connections. Many relatives of famous artists appeared on stage, which some commentators perceived as excessive promotion of nepotism, which in turn provoked a sharp comment from the aforementioned Gassmann. Meanwhile, Gianluca Grignani's sarcastic remarks aimed at host Carlo Conti, regarding Laura Pausini's phone number, introduced an element of unpredictability for which the festival has been famous for decades. Musically, the night was a journey through the decades, from the 80s rock sounds performed by Bambole di Pezza and Cristina D'Avena, to the moving duet of Fedez and Masini with the song „Meravigliosa creatura”. Despite the late hours, the fourth day of Sanremo 2026 attracted millions of viewers to their screens, confirming the undiminished popularity of the format. Critics' analyses indicate that this year's selection of covers was exceptionally thoughtful, and the artists managed to avoid being derivative. Although the evening was dominated by the joy of the winners, it is precisely the controversies surrounding the jury's assessments and the behavior of the television direction that will be the subject of discussion in the coming days. The festival is approaching its grand finale, and Saturday's gala will decide who receives the prestigious Lion Cub and Palm statuette, which traditionally opens the door to an international career. „Sui fiori c'è il numero della Pausini così la chiamo?” (On the flowers, there's Pausini's number so I can call her?) — Gianluca Grignani