Fru's Stage Invasion at Sanremo: The Kolors Performance Repeat Sparks Stir

During the second night of the 76th Italian Song Festival in Sanremo, on Wednesday, February 26, 2026, a repeat of last year's controversial incident occurred. Francesco 'Fru' Pardini, known from the comedy group The Jackal, once again illegally accessed the main stage of the Ariston Theatre. This time, his target was the performance of the band The Kolors, who were presenting themselves in the guest section, known as the Suzuki Stage. Fru, dressed in black in his characteristic style, stormed the stage and joined the musicians as a mysterious dancer, and his appearance was immediately captured by cameras and widely shared on social media. This event is a direct reference to the incident at Sanremo 2025, when Fru similarly disrupted the winner Marco Mengoni's performance. At that time, his act was perceived as a bold, performative joke that provoked both outrage and applause. The repetition of the same pattern a year later indicates it has become a kind of artistic signature for Fru, though it simultaneously raises questions about the freshness of this idea and the boundaries of humor at such a regulated event. Reactions were divided. Some viewers and online commentators saw it as a funny and expected element that has already become part of Sanremo's folklore. Others, including journalists covering the event, pointed to serious logistical and security issues. An unauthorized stage invasion during a live broadcast to millions of viewers poses a serious challenge for security and indicates potential gaps in the system. The Sanremo Festival, held continuously since 1951, is not only Italy's most important music competition but also a cultural phenomenon with immense social reach. Its format, combining the competition for participation in the Eurovision Song Contest with performances by stars, has for decades been an arena not only for musical but also for media and social events, often extending beyond the framework of music itself. The performance by The Kolors, a band that gained immense popularity thanks to the viral hit 'Tu con chi fai l'amore' from 2023, was itself an anticipated point of the evening. Their energy and recognizable style made them ideal 'victims' for Fru's joke. The Suzuki Stage section itself, a platform for invited artists, became the scene for this performative disruption this time. Unlike last year's invasion, which was a complete surprise, this year part of the audience may have expected it, lending the event a note of self-irony and self-quotation. Ultimately, although the incident did not interrupt the performance, and The Kolors continued singing, it became the main topic of press reports from the festival's second day, overshadowing other musical events. In the context of broader trends in show business, Fru's actions fit into a long tradition of artistic provocations and happenings, intended to break the monotony of large, commercialized spectacles. However, in the era of ubiquitous social media, such a gesture instantly becomes a viral sensation, and its repetition risks losing spontaneity in favor of a calculated image strategy. The festival authorities and broadcaster RAI did not issue an immediate official statement regarding the incident, suggesting it may have been a staged or at least tolerated action. Regardless of intentions, Fru's stage invasion at Sanremo 2026 effectively captured attention and fueled debate about where performance art ends and unacceptable violation of a major show's regulations begins.