Sanremo 2026: Ditonellapiaga and Tony Pitony Triumph, High Viewership for Festival's Fourth Night

The fourth evening of the Sanremo Festival, traditionally reserved for interpretations of classic Italian and foreign songs, brought victory to the duo Ditonellapiaga and Tony Pitony. Their interpretation received the highest acclaim from jurors and viewers, allowing them to outpace the competition in the prestigious covers ranking. This success is particularly significant in the context of the approaching grand finale, building a strong position for the artists ahead of the decisive battle for the festival trophy. 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. In terms of viewership, Rai can speak of a major success, although the data is weaker than in the record-breaking 2025. The program was followed by an average of 10.8 million viewers, translating to a 65.6% share. Media emphasize that despite a drop in viewership of about 3 million compared to last year's edition, this result remains one of the best in the history of modern Italian television, confirming the undiminished role of the festival as a nation-uniting event. „Questa è la scena che ti dà tutto e poi ti toglie tutto.” (This is the scene that gives you everything and then takes everything away.) — Laura Pausini The evening was not free of tensions and moments that immediately became fuel for social media. The performance by Levante and Gaia, ending with a kiss that the Spanish "El Mundo" described as a moment "setting Sanremo on fire," resonated widely. Simultaneously, numerous memes circulated online, including those comparing host Carlo Conti to Tony Pitony's alter ego. Controversy was also stirred by production backstage – some commentators accused the direction of trying to avoid showing affection between the female artists. Additionally, Gianluca Grignani allowed himself a sarcastic remark aimed at Laura Pausini, asking from the stage if her phone number was in the materials he received, which caused consternation in the Ariston Theatre. The tradition of the covers evening was introduced to Sanremo to honor the history of Italian music, allowing contemporary artists to engage in a dialogue with the works of masters from previous decades. Great emotions were sparked by the return of Gianni Morandi, whose presence on stage, though enthusiastically received by the audience, became a source of conflict with Alessandro Gassmann. The actor publicly questioned the equality of rules at the festival. Backstage, there was also talk of excellent styling, where Bianca Balti was deemed "divine," and the duo Levante and Gaia as "disco sisters." All eyes are now on the final Saturday, when we will learn the successor to last year's winners.