The final evening of the 76th Italian Song Festival in Sanremo brought a historic generational change. Carlo Conti, serving as artistic director, officially passed the baton to Stefano De Martino, who will host the 2027 edition. However, the evening was dominated not only by personnel announcements but also by a moving speech by Gino Cecchettin dedicated to the fight against violence against women and spectacular performances by special guests, including Andrea Bocelli and the band Pooh.
New Host for Sanremo 2027
Stefano De Martino was officially announced as the successor to Carlo Conti as host and artistic director of the future edition of the festival.
Manifesto Against Femicide
Gino Cecchettin recalled the names of 301 victims of violence against women, causing deep emotion and a standing ovation in the Ariston Theatre.
Bocelli's Symbolic Entrance
Andrea Bocelli performed as a 'Gladiator,' riding onto the stage on a white horse, becoming the most viral moment of the final night.
Pooh Band Anniversary
The legendary group celebrated 60 years of artistic activity on stage, presenting the greatest hits of Italian pop music.
The final gala of the 76th Sanremo Festival will go down in history as a moment of major generational change in the public broadcaster Rai. Carlo Conti, the current host and artistic director, surprised viewers by inviting Stefano De Martino onto the stage. He officially announced him as his successor for 2027. De Martino, aged 36, will become one of the youngest hosts in the history of the Ariston Theatre, comparable to Fabio Fazio's debut nearly three decades ago. Their joint performance was emotional; the younger presenter thanked Conti for his generosity and professional support, emphasizing the importance of this challenge. The most moving part of the program, however, was the speech by Gino Cecchettin, the father of the murdered Giulia, whose tragic death shook Italy and sparked a national debate on femicide. Cecchettin read out the names of 301 women murdered in Italy since 2023, calling for deep cultural change and a fight against "toxic masculinity." The moment his daughter's name appeared on the screen prompted a standing ovation and tears from the hosts. This event gave the final a gravity extending beyond the framework of a regular song contest, becoming a manifesto against gender-based violence. For decades, the Sanremo Festival has served not only as a song contest but also as a platform for addressing Italy's most important socio-political issues, from the mafia to civil rights.The entertainment layer of the gala was rich with spectacular and at times controversial imagery. Legendary tenor Andrea Bocelli rode into the Ariston Theatre on a white horse named Caudillo, evoking admiration for the scale of the staging as well as numerous social media comments due to a minor physiological incident involving the animal on stage. Viewers could also admire the anniversary performance of the group Pooh, celebrating 60 years of their career. The festive mood was interrupted by a sudden announcement of the death of Ali Khamenei, prompting the audience to spontaneously chant slogans for peace. The evening was completed by presentations of the final outfits, which traditionally form part of the national discussion about fashion and the public broadcaster's aesthetics. „La responsabilità non è mai di chi subisce una violenza.” (The responsibility is never on the one who suffers violence.) — Gino Cecchettin „Ti meriti questo e il percorso che stai facendo.” (You deserve this and the journey you are on.) — Carlo Conti
Mentioned People
- Stefano De Martino — Italian television presenter and dancer, announced as the new host of the Sanremo Festival in 2027.
- Carlo Conti — Artistic director and host of the 76th Sanremo Festival, who handed over the reins to his successor.
- Gino Cecchettin — Father of Giulia Cecchettin, activist fighting violence against women, special guest of the final gala.
- Andrea Bocelli — Famous Italian tenor who performed as a guest, riding onto the stage on a white horse.