Sanremo 2026: Eros Ramazzotti's Jubilee, Duet with Alicia Keys, and a Message of Peace

The third evening of the prestigious Italian song festival in Sanremo offered viewers a unique blend of nostalgia and modern showmanship. The centerpiece of the program was Eros Ramazzotti's return to the Ariston theatre stage, exactly on the 40th anniversary of his 1986 triumph. The artist, introduced by Italian television icon Pippo Baudo, revisited his hit 'Adesso tu' and then invited global star Alicia Keys for a duet. Despite brief technical sound issues, which forced host Carlo Conti to call for a commercial break, they performed the song 'L'Aurora' together. Keys, highlighting her Sicilian roots, sang a part in Italian for the first time, which was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience. The Sanremo Festival, inaugurated in 1951, is the oldest song contest in Europe and served as the direct inspiration for the creation of the Eurovision Song Contest.The evening's music also served as a vehicle for important social messages. Co-host Laura Pausini, supported by the Roman children's choir Piccolo Coro dell'Antoniano, performed Michael Jackson's song 'Heal the World' under the slogan 'Make Music Not War.' The plea for peace gained particular significance in the context of Russian supermodel Irina Shayk's presence on stage. Although Shayk avoided direct political statements, she emphasized that her heart beats for peace and love. The evening was also honored by the presentation of the lifetime achievement award to Mogol, the author of lyrics for over 500 million records sold, who at 89 years old received a standing ovation from the assembled audience. In the competition segment, the second half of the thirty artists in the 'Big' category performed. Based on voting by TV viewers and the radio jury, the top five of the evening were selected, featuring Arisa, Sayf, Luchè, Serena Brancale, and Sal Da Vinci. The show was not without an element of surprise, such as the unexpected and controversial appearance of Belén Rodríguez during Samurai Jay's performance. However, viewers and critics denounced the overt use of lip-syncing, which at one point was not synchronized with the artist's mouth movements. The evening was closed with a comedic touch by Ubaldo Pantani, who parodied the character Lapo Elkann, and Vincenzo De Lucii, impersonating a second Laura Pausini. „Umanamente sono peggio di prima, il successo non mi ha fatto sentire superiore, mi ha dato solo la grande forza di fare quello che mi piace di più.” (On a human level, I'm worse than before; success hasn't made me feel superior, it has only given me the great strength to do what I love most.) — Eros Ramazzotti