Italian singer Ditonellapiaga and controversial artist Tony Pitony won the fourth evening of the 76th Sanremo Festival, dedicated to covers and duets. Their energetic performance won acclaim from viewers, the radio jury, and the press, surpassing Sayf and Arisa. The event attracted nearly 11 million viewers to their TVs, although a drop in viewership was noted compared to last year's record. The evening was dominated by performances from legends of Italian song and provocations from debutants.

Triumph of the Ditonellapiaga Duo

The artist, together with Tony Pitony, won the duets evening ranking, which strengthened her position in the festival's top tier and ultimately gave her 3rd place.

Stable Viewership Results

The covers evening was watched by 10.8 million viewers (65.6% share), a very good result, though lower than the previous year.

Controversy Surrounding Pitony

The new artist caused a scandal with his announcements and behavior, becoming the most commented-on figure on social media.

The fourth evening of the Sanremo Festival, traditionally dedicated to reinterpretations of Italian and world music classics, brought victory to the duo Ditonellapiaga and Tony Pitony. Their interpretation of the dance track "Che fastidio!" captivated the audience at the Ariston Theatre, securing them first place in the evening's prestigious ranking. The covers night is considered one of the most important stages of the competition, having a huge impact on the final overall ranking, in which Ditonellapiaga ultimately took a high third place. The victory was not without controversy, mainly due to Tony Pitony. The artist, described by the press as an "underdog" and a politically incorrect figure, became the main subject of memes and discussions on social media. His stage expression and shocking announcements before the performance divided critics. While some saw him as a refreshing nemesis for the conservative festival led by Carlo Conti, others criticized him for overly radical means of expression. Nevertheless, the synergy with Ditonellapiaga proved strong enough for the duo to surpass favorites like Sayf or Arisa in the voting. The tradition of the duets evening in Sanremo dates back to the turn of the century and aims to connect generations of artists, often leading to the creation of new, intergenerational radio hits.The evening was graced by performances from special guests, including the legendary Gianni Morandi, whose enthusiasm overshadowed some of the younger performers. Viewership data indicates reaching 10.8 million viewers with a market share of 65.6%. While these numbers command respect, media note a drop of about three million viewers compared to the 2025 edition, which becomes a starting point for analyses of the program's format. FantaSanremo, the popular virtual game accompanying the festival, also recorded record engagement results following the winning duo's performance. 65.6% — was the television market share during the fourth eveningIn rankings prepared by leading newspapers such as "Il Fatto Quotidiano" or "La Stampa", ratings ranged from extreme scores for Pitony's provocations to high praise for the professionalism of Laura Pausini, who at times seemed like the sole host of the show. FantaSanremo has become an integral part of the spectacle, forcing artists to perform specific gestures to earn points for their fans, which, according to conservative critics, sometimes distracts from the musical layer itself. „Sono qui per uccidere i mostri sotto il letto della musica italiana” (I'm here to kill the monsters under Italian music's bed) — Tony Pitony

Mentioned People

  • Ditonellapiaga — Italian singer, winner of the covers evening and third-place finisher at the festival.
  • Tony Pitony — Controversial artist who performed in a duo with Ditonellapiaga.
  • Carlo Conti — Main host and artistic director of the Sanremo Festival 2026.
  • Gianni Morandi — Legend of Italian song, performed as a special guest on the duets evening.
  • Arisa — Singer who took third place in the covers evening voting.