Sanremo 2026: Sal Da Vinci Leads Third Night, Technical Troubles and Lamborghini's Escape

The third installment of the Sanremo Festival confirmed that the Italian song celebration does not forgive mistakes, while also offering moments of pure emotion. The night's biggest triumph was Sal Da Vinci. His performance was rewarded with a standing ovation by the audience gathered at the Teatro Ariston and the highest scores in the televoto voting. Right behind him in the ranking were Arisa, Sayf, Luchè, and Serena Brancale, who, despite her long stage career, is emerging as a critics' favorite. The evening opened with the final in the "Nuove Proposte" category, after which fifteen artists from the main lineup took to the stage, presented by their fellow competitors. Since 1951, the Sanremo Festival has been not only a music competition but a key barometer of social moods in Italy, possessing a unique structure in which artists perform as presenters for their competitors.Artistic successes were, however, overshadowed by production problems. During the performance of Eros Ramazzotti and Alicia Keys, a serious sound system failure occurred, forcing production to interrupt the broadcast and air an additional advertising block. The audience reacted with impatience, and social media immediately filled with criticism directed at RAI technicians. Upon returning to air, the artists bravura performed the song "Empire State of Mind," saving the show with their charisma. Controversy was also stirred by the performance of Belén Rodriguez, who was accused of using playback, which in a theater renowned for its excellent orchestra was deemed a shortcoming. 5 — performers found themselves in the top tier of voting on the third dayOffstage, the main topic became Elettra Lamborghini. The heiress and singer announced she had had enough of the festival noise and incessant parties, which she called a "nightmare of festivities." The artist decided to stay overnight in Monte Carlo to find peace, though even there—as she reported on social media—she was awakened by loud music. Meanwhile, Arisa became an internet star thanks to playing FantaSanremo, offering presenter Carlo Conti sedative pills directly on camera. Despite some technical difficulties, viewership for the third night remained at a very high level, cementing the event's position as the undisputed leader of the Italian media market. Top 5 of the Third Evening (Televoto and Radio): 1. Sal Da Vinci — Leader; 2. Arisa — Top 2; 3. Sayf — Top 3; 4. Luchè — Top 4; 5. Serena Brancale — Top 5