The third night of the 76th Italian Song Festival in Sanremo made history with record-breaking viewership figures, reaching nearly 61 percent market share. This is the best result since 1990. The highlight of the evening was the spectacular duet between global star Alicia Keys and Eros Ramazzotti. The stage of the Ariston Theatre also featured stars like Laura Pausini and top model Irina Shayk, sparking numerous emotions and media commentary.

Historic Viewership Record

The festival achieved a 60.6% market share, the best result since 1990, attracting an average of 9.5 million viewers to screens.

American-Italian Duet

Alicia Keys and Eros Ramazzotti performed the song L'Aurora together, becoming the most important musical moment of the third night.

Pacifist Appeal by Pausini

Laura Pausini performed with a children's choir, appealing for world peace as part of an emotional tribute to Michael Jackson.

Controversy Around Irina Shayk

The presence of the world-famous model sparked a discussion about the role of co-hosts, deemed by some media as too passive.

The third evening of the prestigious Sanremo festival proved that the event remains the most important date in the Italian pop culture calendar. The main attraction was the presence of Alicia Keys, who performed the song “L’Aurora” together with Eros Ramazzotti. This performance, although enthusiastically received by the audience, sparked a wave of internet memes due to the visible teleprompter that helped the artist sing in Italian. The Sanremo Festival was born in 1951 and became the inspiration for creating the Eurovision Song Contest, promoting the biggest stars of Italian music for decades, such as Domenico Modugno and Andrea Bocelli. The emotional dimension of the evening was provided by Laura Pausini, who performed Michael Jackson's “Heal the World” with the children of the Antoniano choir. The artist also delivered a pacifist appeal for a world without wars, which met with mixed reactions from critics – some appreciated the gesture, others considered it too pompous. Controversy was also stirred by the comedians' performances and the role of model Irina Shayk, whom some press deemed too withdrawn and “silent,” while others praised her statuesque beauty and distance from politics. 60,6% — market share is a viewership record not seen for 36 years In the competition ranking, Arisa and Brancale maintained strong form, placing in the evening's top five. The attendance success of this year's edition, with peaks exceeding 14 million viewers, confirms the phenomenon of the festival under its current artistic direction. Despite critical voices regarding the archaic presentation formula for women, Sanremo remains a powerful media machine combining nostalgia for the 80s with modern television production.

Perspektywy mediów: La Repubblica criticizes the festival for being stuck in another era regarding the role of women on stage. il Giornale emphasizes the commercial success and entertainment dimension of the spectacle, praising model Irina Shayk.

Mentioned People

  • Eros Ramazzotti — Italian singer who performed in a duet with Alicia Keys.
  • Alicia Keys — American soul star, special guest of the festival.
  • Laura Pausini — Italian vocalist, performed a peace-themed song.
  • Irina Shayk — Model, served in the role of co-host (valletta).