Sanremo 2026 Finale: Carlo Conti Hands Over the Reins to Stefano De Martino

This year's Sanremo festival has gone down in Italian television history as a moment of rare, public succession. Carlo Conti, who successfully hosted the 2026 edition, decided on a bold gesture, announcing his successor directly on the stage of the Ariston Theatre. The new leader of Italy's most important music event will be Stefano De Martino. The 36-year-old artist will be the youngest artistic director in nearly three decades, which is interpreted as an attempt by the public broadcaster to further rejuvenate its audience. Conti emphasized that he himself insisted on announcing this decision during the broadcast, considering it a sign of respect for the company and the viewers. However, after the official part of the press conference, the outgoing host left the room, avoiding journalists' questions, which surprised the gathered media. Financially, the festival proved to be a gigantic success, bringing in a record 72 million euros in advertising profits. However, if we look at the viewership figures, the final attracted 11 million viewers to the screens, translating to a 68.8% market share. While these numbers seem impressive, they represent a drop of about 2 million people compared to the record-breaking 2025 edition. The final evening was enlivened by satirical performances, led by Nino Frassica. The comedian presented an ironic guide to the perfect host, eliciting bursts of laughter from the audience gathered in the legendary theatre. The Sanremo Festival, inaugurated in 1951, has over time become not just a song contest but a fundamental element of Italian pop culture, from which stars like Andrea Bocelli and the band Måneskin have emerged.The prospect of De Martino taking over the reins has evoked mixed feelings among veterans of the stage. Legendary Fiorello, during a live video call, congratulated the successor but also warned him of the immense pressure he will face. „Stefano avrà una pressione assurda, gli romperanno le palle tutti” (Stefano will have absurd pressure, everyone will give him hell) — Fiorello A visibly moved De Martino thanked Conti for his generosity and professional support, asking the senior colleague not to turn off his phone in the coming months as preparations for the 2027 competition begin. The handing over of the 'keys to Sanremo' is seen as a definitive closure of the era of classic presenters in favor of a new wave of television personalities.