Claudio Santamaria and Malika Ayane to Perform Duet in Tribute to Mina at Sanremo 2026

This year's Sanremo Italian Song Festival, running from February 26 to March 1, 2026, has already brought its first major surprise. During the Thursday evening dedicated to performing covers, actor Claudio Santamaria will appear on stage next to experienced singer Malika Ayane. Together they will perform the song "Mi sei scoppiato dentro il cuore", which in the early seventies became a huge hit for the undisputed queen of Italian song, Mina. This performance is a tribute to the legend who died in 2024.

The Sanremo Festival, held continuously since 1951, is the most important musical event in Italy and a key element of Italian popular culture. It is here that the international careers of artists such as Domenico Modugno, Adriano Celentano, and Eros Ramazzotti were born. The competition, broadcast by the state television RAI, has for decades shaped the musical tastes of Italians and served as a platform to promote Italian song worldwide. The decision for this unusual duet was made very quickly. As reported by the media, it was Malika Ayane who invited Santamaria to the joint project. The actor, known for roles in films such as "Romanzo Criminale" and "Smetto quando voglio", is not a professional singer, although he has occasional musical performances to his credit. Nevertheless, his response to the proposal was immediate. "I told her yes right away" — he admitted, quoted by the Adnkronos agency. This spontaneous gesture emphasizes that for Santamaria, the performance has a more personal and artistic significance than a purely professional one. For Ayane, who is a regular at Sanremo and has several participations in the main competition to her name, this is an opportunity to present herself in a new, intimate light, in a duet with someone known from the screen.

The repertoire choice is not accidental. The song "Mi sei scoppiato dentro il cuore" (English: "You Exploded in My Heart") comes from 1972 and is one of Mina's greatest hits. Its melancholic yet intense character poses a significant vocal and interpretive challenge. Performing this song as part of the covers evening is a clear nod to the rich tradition of Italian pop music and a tribute to the artist whose voice and stage persona were admired by generations for decades. In the context of this year's festival, which is often accompanied by a retrospective narrative, such gestures gain additional emotional depth. For viewers, it's a chance to hear a classic in a new, surprising arrangement, and for critics — a moment to assess how Santamaria's acting charisma will work in a duet with an experienced vocalist.

„Le ho detto subito di sì” (I told her yes right away) — he admitted Media reactions to the announcement of this performance are mixed, but above all dominated by curiosity. Music portals emphasize the symbolism of the tribute to Mina, while tabloids and gossip sites focus on Santamaria's personality and the potential for a "media event". Regardless of the reception, this duet will certainly stand out among the other, more conventional proposals of the covers evening. Its result in the voting by jurors and the television audience will be an interesting indicator of the festival's openness to experiments that go beyond purely musical competence. Ultimately, the undeniable fact remains that, even hours before the broadcast, Santamaria and Ayane have effectively drawn attention to the 76th edition of the Sanremo Festival, proving that the strength of this competition lies not only in the music but also in the stories and emotions created around it.